What Causes Sudden Stabbing Pain In Right Upper To Mid Quadrant Abdomen?

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

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

Mon, 3 Aug 2015 Answered on

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have sudden onset of stabbing right upper to mid quadrant abdominal pain, x 2 hours, without relief of gas capsules or zantac. Pain is reduced with abdominal pressure, but there is rebound pain. I have no health insurance. Do I wait to see if this subsides. Pain scale= 6

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Early diagnosis, rebound is not a good sign.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
Noted that you have pain in the right side of the abdomen with sudden onset, stabbing in nature and reduces on pressure but there is rebound pain.
By rebound means the pain increases on release of the pressure.
If this is present then it is pathognomonic of internal inflammation.
I would advise in such an instance the following:
Clinical evaluation by a General Surgeon.
Few urgent investigation like blood for WBC, urine, ultrasonography, and X-ray in standing position to see for gas under diaphtagm and others as per clinical examination.
Early diagnosis is the key to proper plan of treatment.

I hope this answer helps you to get an early diagnosis, please feel free to ask relevant further queries if you need to or if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

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