Definition
Pain on the right side of the body can have various causes. Depending on the region where the pain is located, the problem can originate from different organs, muscles, bones or other body structures. Traumas such as falls or impacts can also be the origin of the pain.
Often the pain is harmless and disappears on its own after a certain time. If the pain persists for a long time without any apparent cause, it is advisable to consult a doctor who can get to the bottom of the pain. You can find a supplementary overview of pain on the left side of this page: Pain on the left side of the body
Pain under the ribs / costal arch
The liver is located under the costal arch on the right side. The gall bladder is attached to it. Both organs can cause various problems, which in most cases express themselves in the form of pain.
The liver can be affected by an inflammation (hepatitis), for example. The inflammation is often triggered by viruses and can have both acute and chronic courses. In the case of heavy alcohol consumption, the liver can develop so-called cirrhosis.
Colloquially one speaks of a fatty liver. The capsule, which lies protectively around the liver, is stretched by the increased amount of stored tissue. This often causes pain.
The gallbladder is particularly painful when the bile inside it accumulates. This can be caused, for example, by a gallstone in the draining bile ducts. A little further down lies the intestine.
Both the small intestine and the large intestine are distributed over the entire abdominal cavity. However, the large intestine has a suspension on the right side directly below the liver. For this reason, pain on the right side below the ribs can also originate from the colon. Possible causes range from simple constipation to complicated, acutely life-threatening diseases.
Like stitching
Anyone who does sports or, above all, runs from time to time knows the pain commonly known as side stinging. This pain is usually caused by uncoordinated breathing and occurs particularly in people who are not very fit. The exact mechanism of pain development is not yet known.
It is suspected that muscles in the region (including the diaphragm, which is required for breathing, is a muscle) overacidify due to increased metabolism. This means that metabolic products are deposited there which are not removed quickly enough. This can cause stabbing pain.
Other reasons for pain in this area can be problems with the liver or gall bladder. A cause in the gastrointestinal tract is also conceivable. An acutely dangerous disease would be appendicitis.
This is not necessarily expressed in stabbing pain, but it can be a cause of pain on the right side of the body and because of its dangerousness it is in need of clarification. Other possible triggers can be back problems. Also a problem at the kidneys can express itself in pain that resembles the feeling of side stings. Other possible triggers can be back problems. A problem with the kidneys can also be expressed in pain that resembles the feeling of side stitches.
