What organ is on the lower right side of your back

Lower back pain is most commonly associated with problems of the spine, but did you know that inflammation and other problems with your internal organs can also cause back pain? This type of pain usually affects one side of the back, near where the organ is located.

Irritation, inflammation, or infection of any of the organs in the central, abdominal, or pelvic region can produce lower back pain. Let’s talk about some of the main organs that can cause this pain, and where you can go for an evaluation and treatment:

Kidneys

Kidneys help remove liquid waste from the body. When urine contains a lot of chemical substances – more than what the urine can dilute – kidney stones can form, and they can cause a sharp pain in the side and the lower back region.

Kidney stones can also cause other symptoms, such as difficulty urinating and blood in the urine. If the issue is a kidney infection, this can result in lower back pain and fever.

Pancreas

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which is an organ that plays an important role in digestion and blood sugar regulation. The pain from pancreatitis may start in your upper abdomen and radiate to your lower back. The pain can be severe and disabling, so be sure to see a doctor right away.

Appendix

The appendix is located in the lower-right abdomen, and its function has recently been determined to be a storehouse of good bacteria. However, it can suddenly become inflamed, causing severe pain that starts in the lower abdomen and travels to the lower back. An inflamed appendix needs to be surgically removed because if it bursts, the leak can cause toxic effects in the body.

Large Intestine

Inflammation of the large intestine (colon), or ulcerative colitis, can also cause lower back pain. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps and rectal pain.

Physical Therapy for Treating Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain needs to be evaluated by a doctor in order to find out whether an internal organ is causing it, or exactly what the source of the pain is. Imaging studies and other tests will reveal the cause of your symptoms.

Lower back pain can be relieved without medication or surgery by employing physical therapy. Here at Endeavor Physical Therapy & Wellness, our experienced medical team provides superior and individualized physical therapy programs for our patients. Our licensed and skilled physical therapists will work with you to relieve your lower back pain and to make your body stronger and more flexible.

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with us, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (512) 284-7192 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We proudly serve Austin, Round Rock, Manor, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Bee Caves, and Hutto – and we look forward to helping you enjoy less back pain and more living!

Lower right back pain has many potential causes. Muscles, bones, discs, spinal nerves, internal organs, or underlying illness can directly or indirectly cause lower back pain.

Common causes of lower back pain on the right side only can be minor problems like a pulled muscle or a misaligned spine. Lower right back pain can also indicate more urgent conditions, like kidney stones or spinal stenosis. 

While dealing with any type of back pain is frustrating, pain in your lower right back is usually not serious and can be treated at home. Severe or ongoing pain should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

This article explores the potential causes of lower right back pain. It also details when to seek medical help and how lower right back pain is diagnosed and treated.

Most causes of lower back pain involve the bones and muscles that move the spinal column. Neurological causes can involve the lumbar nerve roots.

Although uncommon, other underlying health problems sometimes cause right-sided back pain. Even though you may feel pain in the lower back, the problem may actually be located elsewhere in your body.

Below is a list of some of the conditions that can cause right-sided lower back pain.

Kidney stones are a common cause of non-spine-related back pain. Even a small kidney stone can be painful as it passes through the urinary tract.

Due to the location of the kidneys, pain from kidney stones may be felt deep within the left or right side of the back, depending on which kidney is involved. The pain will typically be sharp. There may also be lower abdominal pain, pain with urination, and nausea or vomiting.

Gallstones can also cause right-sided back pain due to the location of the gall bladder just under the liver on the right side of the body.

In addition, gallstones can cause sudden and intense pain in the upper abdomen, beneath the breastbone, between the shoulder blades, and in the right shoulder. Nausea or vomiting are also common.

A herniated disc occurs when the shock-absorbing cushion between two adjacent vertebrae (spinal bones) bulges or ruptures. In many cases, a soft, liquid-like substance inside the disc can leak out.

Should the substance come into contact with a nerve root, it can "short circuit" electrical signals and trigger symptoms of radiculopathy (typically on one side of the body).

Most herniated discs don't require surgery, but about 10% don't improve with non-operative treatment. Physical therapy is often prescribed for disc herniations. A six-week course of therapy is typical.

Facet joints are interconnecting joints located at the back of the spine. Collectively, they give the spine its integrity by limiting spinal movement. Each spinal level has a right and left facet joint.

Facet joints are often where bone spurs develop. These abnormal bone growths may be triggered by arthritis, previous trauma, or other causes.

When spurs develop on a right facet joint, they cause right-sided pain. Other symptoms include leg weakness, numbness, tingling, and electrical sensations that shoot down one leg.

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces between the spinal vertebra narrow and create pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. When it occurs in the lumbar spine, it can cause lower back pain on one or both sides. 

Pain from spinal stenosis is often described as a burning ache or pain. It may radiate down the buttocks and into the leg.

Spinal stenosis pain is typically worse when standing or walking and is relieved by leaning forward. It can also cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or cramping in the feet and legs. Symptoms are more pronounced when standing or walking.

The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the pelvis to the sacrum, the triangular bone between the lower spine and tailbone. The locking or abnormal movement of these joints (due to trauma or other causes) can lead to back pain and referred pain.

Sacroiliac pain may also be caused by a form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive, debilitating disease that can cause parts of the spine to fuse together. Symptoms include spinal stiffness, pain, and immobility.

Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine that causes it to have an "S" or "C" shape. The abnormal curve can cause muscles to be tight and overstretched on one section of the spine and compressed on another.

Low back pain is common in adults with scoliosis and is often unilateral (occurring on only one side). Sciatica and muscle spasms are also common.

Two potentially serious causes of back pain are spinal cysts and tumors. Cysts develop due to degenerative changes in the spine, while tumors can develop due to changes in cells.

A spinal cyst can press on a nerve root that goes to a different area of the body. This pressure can cause a type of nerve pain called radiculopathy.

Symptoms of radiculopathy include pain, weakness, numbness, or a pins-and-needles sensation that runs down one leg. There may also be cramping and discomfort while walking.

Spinal tumors, either cancerous or non-cancerous, can press on the spinal cord itself. Symptoms include back pain that radiates (spreads) to other areas, known as referred pain. There may also be muscle weakness, difficulty walking, decreased sensitivity to pain, and bowel or bladder incontinence.

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious condition that occurs when nerve roots in the lumbar spine are compressed, disrupting the function of the bladder, bowel, and legs. Causes include spinal trauma, tumors, infection, and spinal birth defects.

Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome may include severe low back pain, sciatica, leg numbness, an inability to urinate, bowel incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and the loss of reflexes in the legs. Immediate surgery is generally advised.

Diagnosing lower right back pain involves a physical exam and a review of your medical history. This may include a neurological exam to see if your reflexes are normal or to check for weaknesses or sensations that point to a nerve injury.

Based on the findings, your doctor may order imaging studies to look for abnormalities in the spine. This may involve an X-ray of the spine or computed tomography (CT) scan, in which multiple X-ray images are combined into a 3-D image. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another test that can detect soft tissue damage better.

A nerve conduction study, also known as electromyography, may also be ordered. This can show your doctor how well electrical signals are traveling through nerves.

Right-sided low back pain treatment can differ based on the underlying cause. If the cause is related to a systemic illness, efforts will be focused on resolving the underlying condition first and foremost.

Options for the treatment of lower back pain itself may include:

Right-sided lower back pain may be caused by muscle-, bone-, or nerve-related problems affecting the spine. These include herniated discs, facet joint bone spurs, spinal arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scoliosis, spinal cysts or tumors, and cauda equina syndrome. Other illnesses like kidney stones and gallstones can also cause lower back pain.

The diagnosis of lower back pain involves a physical exam and a review of your medical history as well as imaging tests and nerve conduction studies if needed.

The treatment varies by the cause but may include prescription or over-the-counter painkillers, physical therapy, spinal manipulation, spinal steroid injections, and surgery.

If low back pain keeps you up at night, lasts longer than a week, recurs, or affects your ability to move or function, see a doctor. In most cases, the cause will be relatively easy to treat or manage.

If a more serious underlying condition is involved, early diagnosis and treatment almost always translate to better results.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if my back pain is kidney-related?

  Kidney infection or kidney stones can cause lower back pain on one or both sides. Pain from a kidney stone is usually felt in the flank—the area of the back between the ribs and hip bone—and radiates to the groin.

• Does COVID-19 cause lower right back pain?

  It can, but doesn't always. COVID-19 often causes muscle and body aches. Pain can be felt all over or limited to one or more parts of the body. If you have COVID and lower back pain on the right side, the virus could be the culprit. If the pain is severe, however, seek medical attention.
  

• Can a bacterial infection cause lower back pain?

  Yes, back pain can be caused by a bacterial infection. Research shows in some cases, antibiotics help to treat chronic lower back pain, suggesting a bacterial infection may be to blame. Lower back pain can also be caused by other bacterial infections, such as a urinary tract infection.