What Causes Severe Right-sided Back Pain Radiating To Right Abdomen?

Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 Answered on

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am having mod to severe R back & side pain (waist) radiates to R abd. Nothing stops it . Its been going on for a few months. I first noticed it went to doc had a uti, I thoughtit could be kidney stones but doc says she didn t see anything. Tx Uti, but pain is there . Severe during nite when laying down and when I get up better during day when i am functioning

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
First check kidneys elaborately, then assume liver and gastric causes

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I do believe a UTI can cause some pain especially when associated with kidneys and the renal tract, but if an ultrasound KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) was conducted and the kidney and renal tract was found to be normal, then we can rule this out.

In a scenario where any abnormalities with the renal tract have been ruled out, we need to assume abnormalities of the digestive tract when there is pain in the right side of the abdomen and back, so I would recommend the following:

+A consultation with a gastroenterologist
+An ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis
+Endoscopy (either an upper GI endoscopy or a colonoscopy depending on which part of the digestive tract needs to be examined)

I would also like to ask if you have any of the below listed symptoms:

+Heartburn
+Increased flatulence
+Abdominal bloating
+Regurgitation of food or liquid
+Nausea
+Vomiting
+Bitter taste in the mouth
+Any discolouration of the skin or eyes (yellowish discolouration)
+Any itching on the skin
+Any pain associated with a particular diet (e.g. fatty food, oily food, fried food, etc.)

I do believe there is something else here, but only if the kidneys were adequately checked. So please do write to me after discussing with your doctor whether or not the kidneys were elaborately checked or not. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar