Side Pain

 
Side pain, for purposes of this article, will mean the area below the arm pit down to the lower hip where the thigh begins.

There are dozens of possibilities for side pain in this area. This article will focus on the most common.

Appendicitis - The appendix is a small pouch attached to the end of the intestine on the right side in the area of the hip. It can become inflamed to the point of bursting, which can be fatal.

Pain can be mild at first but then becomes more severe as the inflammation grows.

The pain in the side caused by appendicitis is often mistaken for a bad case of gas when it begins. But there will probably be other symptoms along with it: fever, nausea, vomiting and malaise.

Appendicitis is extremely serious and requires quick medical attention.

Bladder infections - Generally, the most definitive symptom of a bladder infection or UTI (urinary tract infection) is a burning sensation while you're urinating. But it can also cause sharp pain in either side of the abdomen. If you feel the urge to urinate but little urine comes out, or your urine is tinged with blood, you could have a bladder infection. These symptoms, however, could also be symptoms of kidney problems. See below.

Bone bruises, cracks and fractures - A cracked or broken rib is one of the most painful injuries you're ever likely to sustain. Ribs can also be bruised by a blow or a fall. A "hip pointer," which many athletes get, is an extremely painful, acute injury to the iliac crest of the pelvis. All these things can cause pain in the side.

Cancer - Many symptoms of cancer are "silent" in the early stages. In other words, you don't even know something is wrong. But as the disease progresses, pain begins. Cancer involving the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, colon and reproductive organs can all produce pain in the side.

Heart attack - Heart problems usually cause chest pain (angina), but may also cause "referred" pain in the side, arm or jaw. Referred pain means the pain actually originates in one place but is felt in another.

Inflammatory disorders - Arthritis and osteoarthritis are among common diseases that we tend to get as we grow older (although young people sometimes get them too).

Kidney problems - There are a whole range of kidney disorders and conditions that cause pain in the side. Kidney stones are the most common. These form in the kidneys but then often begin to travel down the urethra toward the bladder, obstructing or blocking urine flow along the way. Pain in the side caused by kidney stones has been described as being as intense as the pains of childbirth or a gunshot wound.

Liver and gallbladder - Disorders involving either or both of these organs can produce pain in the side. The largest part of the liver is located on the right side near the bottom of the rib cage. The gallbladder is in the same general area. Gallbladder pain often starts on one side of the abdomen, but may radiate to the shoulders and into the upper back.

Muscle spasms, pulls, strains and tears - Since there are a lot of large muscles, ligaments and tendons on each side of the human body, any strain, pulls or tear can cause pain.  Unlike disorders of the internal organs, pain is usually the only symptom when muscles, tendons and ligaments are damaged.

Nerve-related pain - A problem in the spinal column can cause nerve related pain in the side and, in fact, all along nerve pathways around the body. Usually you can tell when your pain is nerve-related because you also get numbness, tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation.

Reproductive organs - There are a number of disorders related to the reproductive organs that cause side pain. Some are caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Others may be caused by tumors such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and uterine cancer.

Shingles - This is actually caused by a virus which attacks the nerves and causes a nasty, painful skin rash. The rash--and the pain-- often appear first on the side of the trunk.

"Stitch" pain - This is a sharp pain on the side at approximately waist level. It's brought on by running, exercise or other forms of exertion.  Stitch pain has been a mystery for a long time. Researchers now believe it occurs when the ligaments on the side become stretched during vigorous physical activity.