It’s not surprising to hear someone complaining about low back pain. It’s an all-too-common occurrence in adults of all ages, especially the elderly. Fortunately, most cases of low back pain are no cause for concern, as they often resolve within a few days with basic remedies.
However, if your lower back pain is in your right side, you might be wondering whether it will also go away on its own or if you should be worried about it. Read on to learn about its potential causes and your best course of action for it.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
Low back pain has various potential causes, some of which are listed below:
- Damage to tendon, ligament, bone, or nerves
- Muscle strain
- Pinched nerves in the lower region of the spine (i.e., sciatica – lumbar or sacral radiculopathy)
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
The first two are usually caused by trauma or an injury, whereas the last three are degenerative diseases, meaning they come on gradually and get worse over time.
A herniated disc can be caused by either a strain/ injury or aging-related wear and tear. Additionally, up to 90 percent of cases of sciatica are due to a herniated disc.
What Lower Back Pain in the Right Side Could Also Mean
Low back pain in your right side can be due to one of the conditions listed above. However, if any of your internal organs located toward your back is damaged or diseased, you can also feel pain in your low back—albeit this is rare.
Your kidneys, intestines, appendix, and ovaries are located more toward the back of your body than toward the front. These organs share same nerve endings with your back muscles, so it can be hard to tell if the pain you’re experiencing is truly from your back or from your organs.
Organ issues than can cause low back pain are include but not limited to:
- Kidney infection or kidney stones in the right kidney
- Appendicitis
- Endometriosis affecting the right ovary
Although organs issues can cause pain that feels similar to back pain, organ issues are typically accompanied by other symptoms, which can indicate the source of your pain. For example, if you have a kidney infection, you will also experience pain while urinating, which is not a symptom of any of the conditions mentioned in the previous section.
There is no way you can pinpoint the cause of your low back pain unless you see a physician. Low back pain that is severe, worsening, or resistant to self-care methods definitely warrants proper medical evaluation.
Pain Management Doctors in Wilmington, Dover, and Foulk Road, Delaware
Here at Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers, our name says it all—we deliver the best treatment outcomes for various underlying causes of back pain. Our dynamic team includes board-certified pain management specialists and licensed chiropractors who offer an extensive variety of nondrug, nonsurgical solutions for back pain to bring one goal to fruition: to help you feel and move better, so you can get back to living your best life.
Arrange a consultation with one of our highly qualified providers today. Call us at 302-529-8783 or submit an appointment request here.
