Why Does My Lower Back Hurt on the Right Side?

Does your lower back only hurt on the right side? One-sided lower back pain is relatively common and usually not a major health concern. However, with so many possible causes of right-side back pain, including some serious medical conditions, it can be tricky to get to the root of your discomfort. 

Keep reading to learn about the possible causes of lower back pain on the right side and when to seek professional care. 

What Does Lower Back Pain on the Right Side Indicate?

Lower back pain on the right side can indicate a back injury, spinal condition, kidney stone, infection, appendicitis, liver problem, or myofascial pain syndrome. 

Back Injuries 

Various back injuries can cause right-side back pain, most commonly including back sprains and strains. These prevalent injuries, which affect the back muscles, tendons, and ligaments, can range from mild to severe, but usually heal effectively after a few weeks. Symptoms include lower back pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, muscle spasms, and tenderness. 

Spinal Conditions

Spinal conditions often trigger lower back pain, which may occur on one or both sides of the back. Examples include:

  • Spinal stenosis is the abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal, either due to age-related spinal changes, degeneration, or genetics. If the spinal canal constricts a nerve or the spinal cord, you may experience lower back pain, as well as radiating neurological symptoms. 

Regain your mobility with Premia Spine! Contact us now

  • Spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra slips downward, out of its regular position. This can compress nearby spinal nerves, leading to back pain. Sometimes, this pain only occurs on one side of the body. 
  • A ruptured disc (also called a bulging or herniated disc) develops when one of the discs that cushion the vertebrae weakens and cracks. Pain on one side of the body is a possible symptom of a herniated disc. 
  • Degenerative disc disease is an umbrella term used to describe chronic pain from a damaged spinal disc. It can cause back pain and neurological symptoms, which may occur on one or both sides of the body. 

Regain your mobility 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

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are deposits of salts and minerals that develop inside the kidneys, which are located just under the rib cage on either side of the spine. Kidney stones are common, and many of them pass through urine (although passing them can be very painful). In some cases, you may need prescription medications or even a procedure to break up and pass a kidney stone. 

Along with pain in your lower back, side, or abdomen, kidney stones can cause:

  • Blood in urine
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Pain with urination
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Frequent urination
  • Fever and chills
  • Cloudy, odorous urine

Infections

Kidney, urinary tract, pelvis, and spinal cord infections can cause pain on the lower right side of the back. Lower right back pain from an infection tends to be sharp, and it may come on suddenly. Other infection symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal cramping, lack of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. 

If you experience sudden lower right back pain and any of the other infection symptoms we mentioned, seek emergency medical care. Prompt medical treatment helps prevent severe complications from infections, such as permanent tissue damage and sepsis. 

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an infection of the appendix, a small pouch of tissue connected to the large intestine. Pain from appendicitis typically begins around the navel, then sharpens and moves toward the lower right side of the abdomen. It can travel to the lower back, hamstring, and rectum. 

Other symptoms of appendicitis include fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and a swollen abdomen. Appendicitis is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to prevent life-threatening complications. 

Liver Problems

Liver pain can manifest in the lower right back, although it’s more likely to occur in the upper right side of the back or abdomen. It’s often accompanied by dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and swelling in the lower extremities. Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect your back pain is related to a liver issue. 

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome, or MPS, is a pain disorder affecting the muscle tissue and fascia that surrounds it. Fascia is a thin type of connective tissue that encases muscles, nerves, organs, bones, and blood vessels. Medical experts think that with MPS, the site of the tissue strain or damage causes a trigger point to form, leading to referred pain (pain in other areas of the body). 

With MPS, you may experience localized pain in one or multiple muscle groups, including the lower back muscles. MPS pain can feel different for different people; it may be sharp and sudden or constant and dull. The pain may be described as throbbing, aching, tight, or tender. 

How to Fix One-Sided Lower Back Pain

To fix one-sided lower back pain, you first need to identify its source by receiving a diagnosis from a medical professional. With this diagnosis, your doctor can provide a treatment plan. 

Here are a few common treatments to fix many of the common causes of one-sided lower back pain:

  • Physical therapy
  • Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter
  • Chiropractic care
  • Massage therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Steroid infections
  • Lifestyle changes, like an exercise routine and anti-inflammatory diet

When Should I Be Worried About Right Side Pain?

You may need to worry about right-side pain if it’s accompanied by other warning signs of a serious condition, including fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools, and yellowing of the eyes or skin. 

Other signs that indicate right-side pain may require emergency medical care are:

  • The pain is severe, occurs suddenly, or makes you bend over in pain. 
  • The pain spreads into other areas of the body. 
  • You notice swelling and/or tenderness in the abdomen. 

How Do You Know if Your Side Pain Is Internal or Muscular?

You can tell if your side pain is internal or muscular by whether or not it worsens with movement, is tender to the touch, and is accompanied by other symptoms. 

Internal side pain tends to feel deeper and more far-reaching than muscular pain. It also tends to have other symptoms, like fever, nausea, and a lack of appetite. 

Muscular pain often gets worse with movement, while internal pain often isn’t impacted by movement. It’s also more localized than internal pain, meaning you can pinpoint exactly where you’re feeling the pain. 

If you’re not sure whether your pain is muscular or internal and it lasts for more than a few days, it’s best to visit a doctor for a medical evaluation.