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What Causes Radiating Pain In Upper Right Abdomen And Back?
Posted on
Sun, 14 Feb 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 14 Feb 2016
Answered on
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : HELLO DOCTOR: I HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR MANY MONTHS SOME PAIN ON THE RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT OF MY STOMACH (i BELIEVE IT TO BE MY GALLBLADDER). THE PAIN HAS PROGRESSIVELY
ESCALATED AND TODAY IT IS REALLY BAD, I CAN'T LAY DOWN, SIT DOWN OR WALK. THE PAIN IRRADIATES TO MY BACK ON THE BACK UPPER RIGHT QUADRANT.
MY GASTROENTEROLOGIST HAD SOME TESTS DONE (SCAN OR MRI) ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND HE SAID FATTY LIVER OR FATTY GALLBLADDER. I WENT TO SEE HIM AGAIN A MONTH AGO AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME AND HE SAID YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT SAME
LITTLE PAIN THERE. BUT ALL IT IS IS THAT YOU HAVE A FATTY GALLBLADER AND FATTY LIVER.
TODAY THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE AND I AM SCARED, YOU SEE DOCTOR MY HUSBAND COMPLAINED
OF SIMILAR PAIN ONE DAY NINE YEARS AGO. THE DOCTOR SENT HIM FOR SCAN ETC. AND THEY FOUND A VERY LARGE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA. HE DIED A WEEK FROM THE DIAGNOSIS.
I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN RENDER ON THIS MATTER.
RESPECTFULLY
XXXX
ESCALATED AND TODAY IT IS REALLY BAD, I CAN'T LAY DOWN, SIT DOWN OR WALK. THE PAIN IRRADIATES TO MY BACK ON THE BACK UPPER RIGHT QUADRANT.
MY GASTROENTEROLOGIST HAD SOME TESTS DONE (SCAN OR MRI) ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND HE SAID FATTY LIVER OR FATTY GALLBLADDER. I WENT TO SEE HIM AGAIN A MONTH AGO AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME AND HE SAID YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT SAME
LITTLE PAIN THERE. BUT ALL IT IS IS THAT YOU HAVE A FATTY GALLBLADER AND FATTY LIVER.
TODAY THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE AND I AM SCARED, YOU SEE DOCTOR MY HUSBAND COMPLAINED
OF SIMILAR PAIN ONE DAY NINE YEARS AGO. THE DOCTOR SENT HIM FOR SCAN ETC. AND THEY FOUND A VERY LARGE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA. HE DIED A WEEK FROM THE DIAGNOSIS.
I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN RENDER ON THIS MATTER.
RESPECTFULLY
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Rush to ER, needs urgent care, investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
To recapitulate: Female/71 - progressive increase in pain in right upper quadrant of abdomen - very bad today that you can not lay down, sit down or walk - radiates **to the back - consulted Gastroenterologist - some scan - fatty liver and fatty gall bladder - husband had similar problem 9 years back - diagnosed and died of hepatocellular Ca -
With such a severe pain, I would advise you the following:
Rush to ER.
- Have EKG to be on a safer side.
- Referred pain to the back after pain in the right upper quadrant has been continued for such a long time is not a good symptom, needs urgent investigations.
The commonest causes being:
Stomach ulcer on its posterior wall.
Pancreatitis.
Needs, tests of blood - routine as well as Amylase, Lipase, Liver function tests, sugar and as decided on clinical examination by a Doctor.
- Ultrasonography followed by CT scan or MRI as may be needed.
This alone can give a probable diagnosis and a plan for further treatment.
I hope this answer helps for an early and proper diagnosis and proper treatment, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Rush to ER, needs urgent care, investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
To recapitulate: Female/71 - progressive increase in pain in right upper quadrant of abdomen - very bad today that you can not lay down, sit down or walk - radiates **to the back - consulted Gastroenterologist - some scan - fatty liver and fatty gall bladder - husband had similar problem 9 years back - diagnosed and died of hepatocellular Ca -
With such a severe pain, I would advise you the following:
Rush to ER.
- Have EKG to be on a safer side.
- Referred pain to the back after pain in the right upper quadrant has been continued for such a long time is not a good symptom, needs urgent investigations.
The commonest causes being:
Stomach ulcer on its posterior wall.
Pancreatitis.
Needs, tests of blood - routine as well as Amylase, Lipase, Liver function tests, sugar and as decided on clinical examination by a Doctor.
- Ultrasonography followed by CT scan or MRI as may be needed.
This alone can give a probable diagnosis and a plan for further treatment.
I hope this answer helps for an early and proper diagnosis and proper treatment, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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