Pain Under Your Right Ribs? What Could It Mean and When Should You Get Checked
A reader wrote in asking what constant pain under the right ribs might mean.
Firstly, pain under the right ribs can come from several organs in the upper right part of the belly, and the pattern of the pain often matters as much as the spot itself.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, pain on the right side of the abdomen can be linked to the gallbladder, liver, right kidney, part of the colon, or nearby tissues, so one symptom by itself usually doesn’t tell the full story.
Additionally, upper right pain can range from mild to severe, which is why doctors usually ask where it started, how long it lasts, whether it spreads, and what seems to trigger it.
Pain in this part of the body can make people uneasy because the area holds a lot of important plumbing. If the pain feels dull and lingering, it may point one way. If it comes in waves, hits hard after meals, or travels to the back or shoulder, that can point somewhere else entirely.
After a meal, then trouble
Say the pain flares after a greasy or heavy meal, sits under the right rib cage, and lasts for 30 minutes or longer. That raises concern for gallbladder trouble.
Information from NIDDK shows gallbladder attacks often cause pain in the upper right abdomen, sometimes for several hours, and often after meals.
MedlinePlus adds that gallstone pain may be constant or cramping, and some people also get nausea, vomiting, fever, or pain that reaches the right shoulder blade.
When other signs show up
If the pain is paired with jaundice, dark urine, pale or clay-colored stools, itching, fever, or vomiting, MedlinePlus states the issue might be related to a bile duct or liver problem.
NIDDK also says that liver disease can cause discomfort in the upper right area of the abdomen. If your symptoms include tiredness, nausea, poor appetite, or weight loss, the pain might relate to your liver.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these symptoms seem relevant.
Pain that travels
The Mayo Clinic includes kidney stone pain as a possible cause. Especially if the pain is often sharp, severe, and felt in the side or back below the ribs, and it can move toward the lower belly or groin. It may come in waves, and people can also notice burning with urination, blood in the urine, nausea, or vomiting.
It may not stay under the ribs
One report from MedlinePlus mentioned that appendicitis often starts near the belly button or upper abdomen before shifting lower and to the right. The Mayo Clinic added that the pain often gets worse with walking, coughing, or other jarring movement.
So if pain began higher up, then moved down and became sharper, with fever, nausea, or loss of appetite, that’s a red flag and requires immediate medical attention.
The above outline many of the most dramatic causes. However, pain under the right ribs could turn out to be far less dramatic, like gas, indigestion, or even a pulled muscle after lifting or twisting.
However, unexplained pain that is severe, doesn’t stop, or keeps coming back should be checked promptly.
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