What is located in the right side under the ribs in front of a person?

If you go from top to bottom, in this zone there are:

• the lower part of the right lung , covered with membrane;
• the liver lies under the lung - it occupies the entire space behind the right rib;
• the gallbladder lies under the liver bile ducts descend from it and the liver ;
• Below is the cecum with an appendix - the appendix ;
• closer to the back at the lumbar level are the kidneys , from which the ureters follow into the pelvis;
• In women, the ovaries .

It is in these organs that pain in the right side often occurs.

Among all the possible causes of pain in the right side, we can distinguish conditions that require urgent medical attention and those that do not require it.

Stomach diseases

A burning sensation in the area of ​​the right or left side often occurs against the background of:

Location of internal organs

1. Gastritis. Additional symptoms include: nausea, heartburn, belching. The burning sensation is periodic, occurs on an empty stomach, and goes away after eating. The main part of treatment is a strict diet. If gastritis is not detected promptly and treated, it can develop into an ulcer.
2. Stomach ulcers. Symptoms: cutting pain in the abdomen, headache, burning sensation in the esophagus, vomiting.

When urgent help is needed for pain under the ribs

In the following situations, urgent help is needed if you feel sharp pain under your right rib.

Serious injury

A fall or a strong blow can cause damage or even rupture of abdominal organs and pain in the right side. The most dangerous are rupture of the liver and kidney, which can provoke severe bleeding, which can lead not only to pain but also to death. Symptoms of bleeding are:

• strong heartbeat;
• “cold” sweat, chills;
• pale skin;
• dizziness, fainting.

Acute appendicitis

This is an acute inflammation of the appendix, an extension of the intestine, which is felt as pain in the right side under the ribs. If it occurs, you cannot do without surgical intervention, otherwise peritonitis may develop - when all the organs of the abdominal cavity are involved in the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms:

• severe aching or stabbing pain on the right side of the abdomen, especially typical when it starts in the center under the sternum and is practically not relieved by painkillers;
• symptoms of intoxication: fever, chills, nausea, vomiting;
• muscle tension, pain in the peritoneum in the right side, which indicates that the process is beginning to spread.

A consultation with a surgeon will help determine the symptoms of appendicitis.

Acute cholecystitis

The second most common disease that causes inflammation of the gallbladder, leading to pain. This happens, for example, if there are stones in it, which will cause acute pain in the right side under the ribs. In the case of acute cholecystitis (diagnosed by a surgeon or therapist), urgent surgical intervention is necessary in order to have time to remove the bubble before other organs are involved in the process. Symptoms of the disease are similar to appendicitis:

• pain in the right side of the abdomen: constant, often severe, slightly relieved by antispasmodics;
• yellowing of the skin;
• nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief;
• an increase in temperature is not always possible;
• chills, weakness.

Acute intestinal obstruction

This is a dangerous condition that, without proper help, can lead not only to pain, but also to death. It is dangerous because when the contents of the intestine linger in it for a long time, it begins to be absorbed into the blood and poison the entire body. In some cases, a rupture of the wall and intestine occurs, and the contents leak into the abdominal cavity - this is called “fecal peritonitis.” This condition often ends in death. Find out about the causes and quick methods to eliminate constipation here. Intestinal obstruction occurs for the following reasons:

• disruption of normal intestinal function: normally, the intestinal walls “push” the contents through the intestines, but with poor nutrition and various diseases, the process is disrupted;
• “overlapping” of the intestinal lumen with a tumor or foreign object;
• torsion, compression of the intestine;
• a section of the intestine gets into the hernia and becomes pinched in it.

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction:

• sharp, spastic attacks;
• nausea, vomiting without relief;
• lack of stool;
• pallor, poor health.

Acute myocardial infarction

The cause of acute myocardial infarction is a thrombus in a vessel

What is myocardial infarction and what does it look like:

One of the infrequent forms of manifestation of cardiac infarction is pain in the abdomen and under the ribs in front. The following symptoms can distinguish it from other diseases:

• the pain syndrome is severe and cannot be relieved by medications;
• feeling of strong heartbeat;
• if you have a tonometer, you can measure your blood pressure - it will be either sharply increased or very low;
• feeling unwell, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness.

If you suspect a myocardial infarction, you urgently need to call 03.

Other causes of burning

A burning sensation under the right rib or in the area of ​​the left hypochondrium in rare cases is caused by:

1. Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spinal column. Characterized by lower back pain. It becomes difficult for the patient to remain in a sitting position for a long time.
2. Retroperitoneal hematoma. As a result of a back injury, a blood vessel may burst, which will lead to bleeding and a burning sensation, and an increase in temperature.
3. Pulmonary disease. A burning sensation in the hypochondrium is one of the symptoms of pleurisy, which is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity.

A burning sensation in the left or right side cannot be ignored, especially if it is prolonged. Exacerbation of unpleasant sensations, the appearance of spasms, an increase in temperature - all these are signals of the need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Chronic and systemic diseases with pain in the right hypochondrium

Chronic cholecystitis

Chronic cholecystitis refers to long-term, sluggish inflammation of the gallbladder wall, leading to pain in the right side. As a rule, it is caused by stones located in it. Sometimes the stones “irritate” the wall of the bladder, causing dull aching pain under the ribs. In addition, stones can break down and pass through the bile ducts, causing more severe sensations and even colic. To identify chronic cholecystitis, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the gallbladder. If these diseases are suspected, the diagnosis is prescribed by a general practitioner.

In the case of calculous (stone) cholecystitis, jaundice often occurs, giving a yellowish-green color to the skin.

Hepatitis

These are diseases affecting liver tissue. They can be caused by chronic intoxications, for example, alcohol and viruses that parasitize the liver. Viruses include hepatitis viruses A, B, C, E, D. Of these, viruses of types B and C linger in liver cells for a long time, causing periodic exacerbations, pain in the right side, accompanied by discomfort in the peritoneum and jaundice. If hepatitis is suspected, the hepatologist will prescribe blood tests to evaluate the condition of the liver or find the virus.

Kidney diseases

The kidneys are located closer to the back, so that with kidney disease, patients are more often bothered by colic in the lower back and pain in the right side. If the kidney “suffers”, complaints arise of right-sided pain in the back and abdomen. They can be pulling, “dull”, sometimes intense, “stabbing” - renal colic. The most common cause of kidney damage is an ascending infection from the bladder that penetrates the renal pelvis (pyelonephritis). Read more about kidney diseases here. In addition, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney tissue itself) and hydronephrosis (fluid retention inside the kidney) occur. Any of these pathologies require diagnosis and treatment, since the kidneys are the main “tool” for removing toxic substances such as urea from the body. Diagnostics includes ultrasound of the kidneys, blood tests, urine tests - prescribed by a urologist

Inflammation of the ovaries

In women, pain in the abdomen and front right side is often caused by ovarian diseases. This may be inflammation, cysts, tumors of the appendages. Even the maturation of the egg (ovulation), which occurs once a month, can cause discomfort. The ovaries are located in the pelvic cavity, so spasms are localized in the lower part, but there are exceptions. If you have similar symptoms, see a gynecologist.

Gallbladder problems

Very often, a burning sensation in the sides under the ribs becomes a sign of problems with the natural removal of bile from the body.

Discomfort may indicate the presence of one of the following diseases:

1. Biliary dyskinesia. Associated with impaired motility of the gallbladder. Stagnation of bile causes burning or aching pain in front under the right rib. Pain appears after severe physical stress, eating food that is difficult for the stomach, or taking certain medications. Dyskinesia itself is not dangerous, but it contributes to the formation of stones.
2. Cholelithiasis. The initial stage is characterized by a burning sensation under the right rib or under the shoulder blade. If the disease is neglected, sharp stabbing pains will appear in the side.
3. Cholecystitis. With this disease, a burning sensation under the ribs in the front is observed after eating fatty foods. A patient with cholecystitis is bothered by nausea, heartburn and weakness.

My right side hurts - what else could it be?

If you have pain on the right side in the area under the rib on the side, there may also be non-standard reasons. The list of diseases is described below:

Cholangitis

Bile ducts arise from the liver and gallbladder. If they are damaged, severe attacks of pain in the hypochondrium may occur. The ducts are often damaged by debris from gallstones coming from the gallbladder. The attack can be easily relieved with antispasmodics and may be accompanied by chills - these are their distinctive signs. Confirm the diagnosis using ultrasound.

Tumors

Tumors can grow from any tissue, including liver, kidney, and intestinal tissue. They may not manifest themselves for a long time, but one of the symptoms is spasms and pain. Therefore, it is important for long-term, persistent spasms to consult an oncologist and be examined.

Doctor's advice

Pain in the right hypochondrium does not always occur due to pathology of the internal organs. Often the source of sensation is in the back - the muscles or spine. Sudden overstrain of a muscle during work or exercise leads to micro-tears and stretching, which results in pain. Any degenerative processes in the spine (osteochondrosis, as the most common) can cause pain. A characteristic symptom in both cases will be increased pain when moving, inhaling, coughing, decreasing or stopping at rest.

Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist

Liver echinococcosis

This is an “exotic” disease that is more common in the southern regions. At the same time, a parasite lives in the liver tissue - echinococcus, which gradually destroys the liver. The course of the disease resembles hepatitis; it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis in advance.

Pleurisy

The lungs are covered on the outside with a membrane called the pleura, in which fluid accumulates during various infections. The lower edge of the lung is at the level of the lower ribs, so inflammation of the pleura in this place can cause spasm and pain in the right side. Read more about pleurisy here.

If you have pain in the right hypochondrium, you should not use a heating pad. Heat can increase inflammation, leading to worsening of the condition.

What to do, which doctor to see

First of all, when acute pain occurs, you must:

• Call an ambulance immediately if your case looks like an emergency;
• do not try to cope on your own by taking antispasmodic drugs, analgesics that smooth out the clinical picture of conditions requiring immediate surgical care or intensive care in a hospital;
• Do not under any circumstances use warming compresses or heating pads, which can lead to internal bleeding or rupture of a festering abscess (for example, with appendicitis).

The main thing is to help yourself in a timely manner by seeking advice from a therapist and carrying out all the necessary examinations.

In case of severe or prolonged attacks, it is necessary to consult a doctor, undergo diagnostics and begin proper treatment. Only a doctor can correctly interpret complaints and prescribe the necessary procedures. The main ones are:

• Ultrasound of the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, pelvis;
• urography;
• angiography;
• X-ray of the lungs, abdomen;
• CT, MRI;
• biopsy.

Treatment

First of all, you should understand that the doctor will prescribe treatment and therapy for you individually, having found out the cause of the pain. Here we will give examples of the main therapy used in medical practice. If there is no indication for surgical intervention, then first of all, therapy is aimed at relieving spasms and the inflammatory process, and then depending on the cause of the disease.

Drugs used in therapy:

• Antispasmodics: “No-shpa”, “Baralgin” (in injections), “Spazgan” (tablets).
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Nimesulide, Aspirin, Ibuprofen.
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics: Levofloxacin, Amoxicillin.
• Hepatoprotectors: “Essentiale”, “Karsil”.
• Medicine to improve the flow of bile: Allohol.
• Heart medications: Nitroglycerin, beta-blockers (bisoprolol, metoprolol)

Effective medications for pain relief

You can use antispasmodics to relieve and relieve pain, but you should understand that in case of acute pain you need to wait for an ambulance and find out the cause. Ketorol and Baralgin are considered effective means of relieving pain and spasms , especially for back pain. For stomach pain, " No-shpu" is given as an injection . You can take “No-shpu” and “Spazmalgon” in .

Let me explain about pain therapy for pain in the right hypochondrium. If the cause is a stomach disease, then No-shpa or Spazmalgon is used, i.e. drugs with an antispasmodic effect. Why them and not analgesics? The stomach begins to worry when there is a defect in the mucous membrane, i.e. in the presence of an ulcer or gastritis. And any analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (analgin, meloxicam, xefocam, etc.) has an extremely negative effect even on the intact gastric mucosa, not to mention the inflamed one. Therefore, taking even one such tablet for an ulcer can aggravate the situation and provoke gastric bleeding - a life-threatening condition. Therefore, if acute surgical pathology (appendicitis, for example) is excluded, but you do not know whether the pain comes from the stomach or not, then it is safer to take an antispasmodic drug than any other.

Victoria Druzhikina

Neurologist, Therapist

To determine how serious your situation is, use an online consultation with a doctor on our website in a paid or free mode.

The doctor will make a preliminary diagnosis and give recommendations for first aid and advise on further actions. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or get carried away with painkillers, as they do not eliminate the true cause of spasm and pain.

Be healthy!

Useful articles on the topic: What can you take for stomach pain: a review of medications. What can pain under the left rib in front indicate?

This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.

Bibliography

1. https://vmede.org/sait/?page=7&id=Xirurgiya_gosp_sind_abdulaev_2013&menu=Xirurgiya_gosp_sind_abdulaev_2013
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