Lower Back Pain: Right Side Above the Buttocks
While people often refer to back pain in a general sense, the back is a large area of the body. Pinpointing the part of your back that’s in pain, like the lower right side above the buttocks, can provide further insights as you seek relief.
In this article, we’ll discuss lower back pain on the right side above the buttocks to help you better understand and address the root cause of your discomfort.
Table of Contents
- Why Does My Lower Back Hurt on the Right Side Above My Hip?
- Why Does My Lower Back Hurt Only on the Right Side?
- How to Fix One-Sided Lower Back Pain
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt on the Right Side Above My Hip?
Your lower back may hurt on the right side above your hip if you have a back muscle injury, herniated disc, arthritis, pinched spinal nerve, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, kidney condition, or appendicitis.
Back Muscle Injuries
Back muscle injuries, like strains and spasms, can cause right lower back pain. Back strains occur when the muscle fibers are stretched or torn. This is a common sports injury, but can also be caused by a fall or general overuse.
Spasms in the lower back muscles can be caused by overuse, as well as heavy lifting, repetitive motions, and falls. Back spasms are also a possible symptom of various spinal conditions, including osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and herniated disc. When these conditions result in spinal nerve impingement, they can trigger muscle spasms as the compressed nerve transmits abnormal pain signals.
Herniated Disc
A herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc occurs when one of the discs that cushion the spinal vertebrae becomes damaged. Often, a tear develops in the disc’s exterior, allowing the soft center of the disc to press out into the spinal canal. If the disc presses on a nearby nerve, it can prompt various symptoms, including lower back pain, numbness, and tingling.
Around 5 to 20 out of 1,000 adults experience a herniated disc each year. This injury can be caused by age-related spinal degeneration, overuse, repetitive movements, and sudden trauma to the spine. Lifestyle factors like poor posture, being overweight, smoking, and being sedentary can increase your risk of developing a herniated disc.
Arthritis
Spinal arthritis is particularly common in the lower back, as it bears the weight of the rest of the spine. The most prevalent form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, which gradually breaks down cartilage in the spinal joints. It causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation, which can affect the right side of the back.
Pinched Spinal Nerve
A pinched spinal nerve can cause back pain on the right or left side, depending on the location of the nerve. The pain can radiate to the lower extremities, if the nerve is in the lumbar spine, and may feel sharp, burning, or aching. Sometimes, a pinched lumbar nerve causes muscle weakness in the legs, which can make it difficult to stand and walk.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joints are part of the sacrum and connect the pelvis to the lumbar spine. These joints offer essential support for the upper body when you’re standing upright. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction occurs when these joints don’t move properly, leading to inflammation and pain.
Symptoms of sacroiliac joint dysfunction include:
- Pain in the lower back (right or left side)
- Pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that radiates to the lower extremities
- Pain in the pelvis, buttock, hip, or groin
- Discomfort while transitioning from sitting to standing
Kidney Conditions
Humans are born with two kidneys: one on the right side of the spine and one on the left side. Although the kidneys are positioned in the middle of the back, some people experience pain in the lower back with kidney stones and infections.
Kidney infections can trigger pain in the lower back, sides, or groin. This pain is typically accompanied by other symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Pain while urinating
- Dark, cloudy, bloody, or odorous urine
Pain from kidney stones is generally severe and may be felt in the lower back, abdomen, or sides. Other symptoms of kidney stones are similar to those of kidney infections: fever, chills, vomiting, and bloody, cloudy, or odorous urine.
If you experience symptoms of a kidney problem with lower right-side back pain, seek immediate medical care.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix is inflamed or infected. This causes pain in the lower right area of the torso, which can radiate to the lower right portion of the back. Appendicitis is a medical emergency, as the appendix may burst when left untreated, posing the risk of potentially fatal complications.
Key symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Sudden pain starting on the lower right side of the abdomen, or starting near the belly button and traveling to the lower right abdomen
- Worsening pain with walking, coughing, and sudden movements
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, including constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and gas
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt Only on the Right Side?
- Your lower back may hurt only on the right side because:
- Your right kidney is infected or has a kidney stone
- A muscle on the right side of the back is strained
- A ligament on the right side of the back is sprained
- You overused the right side of the back
- A right-side spinal nerve is inflamed
How to Fix One-Sided Lower Back Pain
The best way to fix one-sided lower back pain will depend on its cause.
- To fix back muscle injuries:
- Rest your back by avoiding strenuous physical activity (without having prolonged bed rest).
- Use cold therapy to bring down inflammation.
- Use heat therapy to relax the back muscles and improve circulation.
- Use a compression bandage to manage inflammation and pain.
If these home remedies don’t alleviate your pain, you may need professional care with physical therapy and medications.
- To fix a kidney infection, you’ll need antibiotics, often administered in a hospital setting to help you recover.
- To fix a kidney stone, you may simply need to pass the stone through the urinary tract. Drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain medications can help with this. Otherwise, you may need to undergo a kidney stone removal procedure.
- To fix appendicitis, you’ll need to immediately undergo surgery to remove the appendix.
- To fix a herniated disc, arthritis, or a pinched spinal nerve, you may need treatments including:
- Lifestyle modifications, like avoiding activities that strain the spine
- Physical therapy
- Oral medications and/or steroid injections
- Chiropractic care, acupuncture, and/or massage therapy
- Spinal decompression surgery (in severe cases)
If you’re suffering from lower back pain on the right side above the buttocks, don’t delay in contacting your doctor for professional medical care.
Take back control of your life with Premia Spine!
David danced at his son’s wedding
Bonnie explains why TOPS surgery was the right decision for her
Wade is back to hiking
Scott speaks about going to surgery
