What causes sharp pain on the right side of the body?

Sharp pain on the right side of the body can be related to the organs and tissues located on the right side of the body. Therefore, the pain can be a symptom of an issue with the lungs, abdomen, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system, gastrointestinal system, or urinary system.

This article covers the potential causes of pain on the right side of the body. It also explores the possible treatments and when to seek medical help.

Causes of sharp pain on the right side of the body

In order to determine the cause of pain on the right side of the body, it helps to narrow down where exactly the pain is originating from since pain can originate from another part of the body but be felt on the right side, and vice versa. Below, we’ll look at the common causes of sharp right-sided pain in the chest, abdomen, and back.

Causes of sharp right-side chest pain

Sharp pain on the right side of the chest is a common clinical symptom, and it can be due to a variety of causes that may be related to the lungs, chest muscles, digestive system, or an infection.

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism develops when a blood clot travels to the lungs, where it blocks the arteries supplying blood to the lungs. The blood clot often forms in the legs (known as deep vein thrombosis), breaks apart, and lodges in the lung. One of the symptoms of pulmonary embolism is sharp and sudden chest pain, which may be felt on the right side. It is accompanied by heart palpitations, coughing, and shortness of breath. 

People who have these symptoms should see their healthcare provider, as pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency that can become dangerous when left untreated. Sometimes the blood clot causes a life-threatening condition: cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops beating), pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), or cardiac arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat).

Pulmonary embolism can be treated with medications known as thrombolytics, which can dissolve the blood clot. Or a healthcare provider may physically insert a catheter into the pulmonary arteries to break up the clot.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is the term for conditions (such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis) that restrict airflow and make breathing difficult. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 16 million Americans have COPD. Symptoms include sharp pain in the chest, shortness of breath, cough, and sputum production.

In most cases, COPD is caused by chronic exposure to tobacco smoke or air pollutants. Hence, successful treatment requires quitting smoking, avoiding exposure to air pollutants, and taking prescribed medications or supplemental oxygen. A healthcare provider may determine that oxygen therapy is needed. Lung surgery is also available for severe cases of COPD.

Lung cancer

Studies show that 20%–40% of people with lung cancer have chest pain. Tumors originating from the right lungs may cause pain on the right side of the chest. However, experts suggest that most lung cancers do not show symptoms until they’ve spread to surrounding tissues or to the ribs. Other symptoms besides chest pain may include shortness of breath, coughing blood, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

People who have the above symptoms should see their healthcare provider to rule out lung cancer, which is the second most diagnosed cancer in the United States and a significant cause of cancer-related death in adults.

According to the CDC, treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments.

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a condition that develops from increased blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs. Experts suggest that this condition can also lead to increased pressure on the right side of the heart. When that happens, the right side of the heart has to work extra hard to pump blood to the lungs, and if this continues for a long time, it may lead to right-sided heart enlargement and heart failure. One of the primary symptoms of pulmonary hypertension is chest pain. 

End-stage pulmonary hypertension is a medical emergency. It cannot be cured entirely but can be managed by treating the underlying causes, which may be a lung or heart problem.

Asthma

About 27 million people in the United States have asthma, which is equivalent to 1 in 12 people, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma is a non-communicable disease that causes difficulty in breathing, and it may cause sharp pain on the right side of the chest.

Like pulmonary hypertension, asthma cannot be cured, but it can be managed by using inhalers. There are two kinds of inhalers: Bronchodilators open the airways, and steroids fight inflammation and reduce the risk of death or worsening asthma attacks.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax occurs when there’s a hole in the lungs and air accumulates outside the lungs, puts pressure on the lung tissue, and causes the lungs to collapse. The most common symptom is severe chest pain that worsens during breathing. The pain also spreads to the shoulder on the side of the body of the affected lung.

Treatment for a collapsed lung depends on various factors, including the cause, size, and extent of the damage. A healthcare provider may recommend supplemental oxygen if the pneumothorax is minor but with symptoms. If it is more severe, an emergency department physician may insert a tube into your chest to drain the air outside the lungs. Surgery is another option for patients not responding to treatment or who have very severe symptoms.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is another lung infection that may cause sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing. Other pneumonia symptoms can include fast and shallow breathing, cough, fever and chills, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

Pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is an inflammation that occurs in the pleura, the tissues that cover the lungs and separates them from the chest. With pleurisy, the pleura covering the two lungs swells up and rubs against each other. This causes the individual to experience sharp pain on either the right or left side of the chest, which worsens with breathing. 

It is essential to report to your healthcare provider if you experience chest pain that worsens as you breathe. Treatment depends on the cause. If pleurisy is caused by bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are needed to treat the infection. But, if a viral infection causes pleurisy, it may heal on its own. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may equally be recommended for managing the pain and inflammation associated with this condition.

Shingles 

Shingles is a viral infection from herpes zoster that can cause crushing or squeezing chest pain followed immediately by the appearance of painful rashes. Shingles is common in older adults and have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

While there is no cure for shingles, it’s important to report it immediately to a healthcare provider to reduce the chances of associated complications. Antiviral medications such as Acyclovir (zovirax) and famciclovir are often prescribed. To help decrease the risk of shingles, Shingrix vaccine is FDA-approved for adults 50 and older. It is a two-vaccine series and significantly decreases the risk of a shingles outbreak.

Non-cardiac chest pain

Non-cardiac chest pain is a persistent kind of pain that feels like squeezing, pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest, below or behind the breastbone. It may spread to the back, neck, arms, and jaws. This type of pain may occur after a large meal, physical activity, or cold temperatures. It may even be associated with emotional problems. Often, cardiac reasons for the chest pain need to be ruled out by an exam, EKG, and blood work. If the results are negative or normal, then it is deemed non-cardiac. 

These common causes of non-cardiac chest pain that may lead to sharp pain on the right side of the chest include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease: This is a condition that occurs when stomach acids move upward into the esophagus, where it feels like burning in the chest.
• Esophageal dysmotility: This is a disorder in the esophagus that makes it fail to deliver food from the mouth to the stomach. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and heartburn.
• Esophageal hypersensitivity: This condition causes people to perceive most sensations in the esophagus as painful. They tend to report more frequent symptoms of chest pain and heartburn. 
• Psychological conditions: Depression, panic disorder, and anxiety are other causes of non-cardiac chest pain. 

Treatment for non-cardiac chest pain depends on the cause.

Musculoskeletal issues

Musculoskeletal causes account for 28% of reported chest pain. These can include broken ribs, strained chest muscles, trauma to the chest wall, and costochondritis—an inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs and the breastbone. Some causes of costochondritis include injury to the chest, strenuous exercise, and heavy weight lifting.

The cause of the pain will determine the course of treatment. For example, your physician may recommend painkillers or physical therapy.

Causes of sharp, right-sided abdominal pain

Certain medical conditions cause sharp pain in the lower-right or upper-right abdomen.

Acute cholecystitis (Gallstones)

Acute cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. It occurs due to gallstones blocking the cystic duct, which drains bile from the gallbladder, thus causing a build-up of bile. Studies show that 95% of people with acute cholecystitis have gallstones.

In most cases, the primary symptom is a sudden sharp pain in the upper right abdomen, which spreads to the right shoulder and mid-back. The differentiating factor from other kinds of abdominal pain is that, in the case of acute cholecystitis, the pain occurs after eating a fatty meal and may continue for years before it is eventually diagnosed.

Apart from upper abdominal pain, symptoms of gallstone pain include a tender and bloated abdomen, gas production, high fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Surgery is the definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis. However, medications such as levofloxacin, metronidazole, promethazine, oxycodone, and acetaminophen may be recommended to manage mild symptoms if the gallbladder seems infected.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a tiny outpouching of the intestine, connected to the large intestine. The most common symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain, which starts near the belly button, before moving to the lower right abdomen when it becomes severe and more persistent. Appendicitis pain may start without warning and worsen with movement.

Appendicitis demands immediate medical attention. Hence, it’s recommended to notify your healthcare provider of severe pain on the lower right side of the abdomen.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy defines IBS as a disorder of the movement of the intestines, the sensitivity of the nerves of the intestines, or the way in which the brain controls some of these functions.

It often causes lower-right abdominal pain as well as cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, according to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health.

People with IBS should eat frequent, smaller meals instead of occasional large meals and restrict indigestible foods such as beans, cabbage, and high-carb foods. A medication called hyoscyamine may be prescribed to ease the abdominal pain. However, hyoscyamine can cause side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, or difficulty urinating.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

IBD could be one of two conditions that are sometimes responsible for lower-right abdominal pain: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both are responsible for chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treatment for inflammatory bowel disease depends on a variety of factors. A healthcare provider may prescribe 5-aminosalicylic acids, immunomodulators, corticosteroids, or biologics. Surgery may be needed to remove damaged portions of the gastrointestinal tract. 

It’s recommended that people who have persistent lower abdominal pain, diarrhea lasting longer than a week, bloody stool, and unexplained weight loss see a gastroenterologist, as these symptoms may indicate IBD.

Diseases of the female reproductive system

Common causes of right-sided lower abdominal pain are due to problems with the female reproductive system, such as:

• Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus)
• Menstrual cramps
• Fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus)
• Ovarian tumor or mass (cancerous growth in the ovaries)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (infections that affect parts of the women’s reproductive organs such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus)
• Ruptured ovarian cysts

Females with right-sided lower abdominal pain should see a healthcare provider or a gynecologist to rule out any of the above conditions.

Other potential causes of abdominal pain are bowel obstruction (a medical emergency), constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, and acute pancreatitis.

Liver problems

Common causes of liver pain include hepatitis, liver diseases, and liver cancer. Upper abdominal pain is the most common symptom of chronic liver disease. This type of abdominal pain can cause a dull ache on the right side of the body. Imaging tests such as CT scans are used to evaluate liver damage.

Liver pain demands immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional.

Causes of sharp right-sided back pain  

Conditions of the kidneys, liver, and spine may cause right-sided back pain. 

Kidney conditions

Kidney-related problems such as kidney infections, urinary tract infections, kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease (cysts growing in the kidney), kidney stones, and kidney cancers can cause kidney pain. Because of the location of the kidney in the body, it is common to feel kidney pain on one or both sides of the back, usually on the upper back. For instance, kidney infections can cause pain in the back or side, depending on the affected kidney.

Kidney pain may also have symptoms that include fever, painful urination, bloody urine, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the pain.

Lumbar spondylosis

Lumbar spondylosis is due to the weakening of the bones, discs, and ligaments in the spine. Symptoms include low back pain, leg pain, and tingling at the hips.

People with chronic symptoms should see a physiatrist (a doctor of physical and rehabilitative medicine), a pain specialist, or a spine surgeon for treatment.

Herniated discs

A herniated disc occurs when the disc (the flexible cushion between spinal vertebrae) is pushed out of its position through a tear in its outer wall (annulus). The dislodged discs add pressure to the surrounding nerves to cause pain.

A herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine, but it is most common in the lumbar region or lower back. Symptoms vary from mild to severe backache or no pain at all. In most cases, herniated discs heal on their own and may not require surgery.

When to seek medical attention

Sharp pain on the right side of the body is not uncommon. However, most causes of sharp pain on the right side of the body cannot be treated at home. Therefore, unless a person is sure of the cause, the best thing to do is to consult a healthcare professional who can perform a physical exam, blood work, and imaging to determine the cause of symptoms. The outcome of the exam will determine the treatment course.

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