Waist pain can be caused by several factors, including a problem in one or more organs located within the pelvic area. The pain in the waist may be severe, throbbing or mild. It may be localized to one area or spread to the other parts of the waist. Depending on the severity, you might need to consult a medical specialist for physical examination, an X-ray or MRI scan to determine the exact cause and therefore the necessary treatment.
Possible Causes of Pain on Right Side of Waist
1. Kidney Diseases
The two kidneys in the human body are located within the pelvic space. If there is injury, trauma or abnormal functioning within one or both kidneys, you can experience abdominal pain. Kidney stones, infection and other kidney diseases also present with pain that begins in the lower abdomen and travels towards the lower back.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut and its specific cause is unknown. However, triggers include eating habits, diet and stress. Symptoms of IBS include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and pain in the lower abdomen. The disease is more prevalent in women than in men.
Right Side Abdominal Pain in Women Due to Pregnancy Growing baby. It is natural that as your baby grows, changes in your uterus will result in some mild abdominal pains. Round ligament pain. During pregnancy, it is normal to have occasional sharp jabbing pains during your second or third. Several different conditions can cause pain in the lower right area of the abdomen. Some of these are severe and require immediate medical attention, so it is important to know the differences.
3. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Common causes of right-sided abdominal pain include: Liver disease, liver cancer, or liver infection. These conditions can cause pain in the right side of your upper abdomen. Gallbladder disease or gallstones. Both of these conditions can be the source of pain in the right upper abdomen. A blood clot in the right lung may cause right upper abdominal pain that is sharp, severe and acute. Other symptoms of pulmonary embolism may include shortness of breath, cough, fast breathing, and blood-tinged sputum (mucus) with coughing. A painful lung infection is pneumonia, which may cause fever. Red Flags for Right Abdominal Pain.
Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID, refers to inflammatory condition that affects the female reproductive and urinary systems, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and the urethra. PID is a common cause of pain on right side of waist and the abdomen in women. It is caused by bacteria which can also lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Pain due to PID has a gradual onset. A victim of PID may notice an abnormal vaginal discharge and suffer deep-seated pain within the pelvis when having sex. She may also experience a burning sensation or pain when urinating.
4. Ovarian Cyst
Occasional Sharp Pain Right Side Of Abdomen
Ovarian cyst rupture and ovarian torsion are common ovarian problems that cause waist pain in female. In case of ovarian torsion, an ovary twists along the stack connecting it to the fallopian tube, similar to a fruit twisting on its stack. This cuts off blood supply to the ovary and also causes stress due to the pulling action. The result is severe pain within the lower abdomen and down to the upper thigh of the affected side. The patient may also experience nausea and vomiting, low fever and in some cases slight vaginal bleeding.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg is lodged or implanted outside the uterus. About 98 percent of the cases occur in the fallopian tubes. If ectopic pregnancy happens on the right side, the patient will experience pain on the right side of waist. Pain caused by ectopic pregnancy is sometimes accompanied by vaginal bleeding. In severe cases which involve rupture and internal bleeding into the abdominal cavity, the patient may get shoulder tip pain. Ectopic pregnancies are normally diagnosed between the 6th and 8th weeks of pregnancy.
6. Appendicitis
If you have pain on right side of waist that lasts for a few days and you also experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever, you could be suffering from appendicitis. The condition usually occurs within the first 30 years of life. In most instances, pain associated with appendicitis starts in the higher part around the belly button, and then spreads to the lower right side of the lower abdomen within one to two days. In some patients, the pain starts and remains in the right side where it gets more severe and is worsened by movements.
7. Biliary Colic
Biliary colic occurs when gallstones are trapped within the neck of the gallbladder. It may also be the result of gallbladder spasm. The pain may radiate from the upper abdomen, to the side of the waist, the back and below the right shoulder blade. The people who suffering from the excruciating pain usually keep moving or curling up in bed, searching for a position in which the pain will lessen. The patient may also get nauseated or even vomit. Pain associated with biliary colic usually lasts for about half an hour, although it may go on for hours, a day or even two before resolving. Biliary colic may be triggered by fatty or oily foods such as stews, fries, and heavy meals.
8. Other Causes
Pain in the right side of waist is not always caused by underlying problems. Sometimes it is the result of cramps arising from strenuous exercise or even poor sitting or sleeping positions. Other possible causes of pain on right side of waist include muscle strain or injury. If you experience a lingering pain on your waist or within the abdomen, you need to visit a medical professional who will conduct a physical examination and recommend an X-ray or MRI for proper diagnosis if necessary.
When to Seek Emergency Help
In the following cases, call for immediate medical care by dialing 911:
- Severe pain in the abdomen, side, flank or back
- Chest pain or pressure radiating to your shoulder blades, jaw, arms
- Bloody or black stool
- Throbbing mass in abdomen
- Sudden, severe and unexplained dizziness
- Labored breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion, fainting, lethargy, disorientation or other changes in level of alertness or consciousness
- Difficulty in urinating
- Deformity in the rib cage
- Bloody vomit or vomiting black materials that resemble coffee grounds
Headaches come in several different forms, and recurring, sharp pains in the head can be among the most jarring and disruptive. Unfortunately, as annoying and distressing as headaches can be, they are not the easiest symptom to diagnose. There is a variety of potential underlying causes that range from the benign to the life-threatening. Being able to understand some of the nuances of head pain and the potential associated symptoms to watch for can help you better inform your doctor and hopefully arrive at the correct diagnoses.
First, Terminology
When speaking to your doctor, it can help to be as specific as possible. Saying you have a sharp pain on the right or left side of the head can be descriptive and useful, but the more precise you can be in the description, the better the diagnoses will be. When describing a sharp pain in the head, make sure to specify if you mean something like:
- A knife-like pain, as if you are being stabbed in the head
- The headache is sudden and severe
- The headache is an intense, painful throbbing
- You are experiencing a shooting sensation in your head
You should also try and mention any activities you were doing when the pain occurred (take notes if you need to) as well as duration and location.
Possible Causes for Sharp Pain in the Head
Migraines
Although they are more common among women, migraines can affect anyone. The severity of a migraine can vary from person to person, so what might be crippling for one individual could merely be annoying for another. Migraines tend to present with severe pain beginning around an eye or temple, and then migrate to the back of the head as a sort of pulsing sensation. Possible associated symptoms include nausea, runny nose, watering eyes, sensitivity to light, numbness or tingling, and visual disturbances ('auras').
Ice Pick Headaches
As the name implies, this is a type of headache that features a sharp, stabbing pain in one region of the head or behind an ear. The pain can be sudden and frightening, but usually only lasts for up to 30 seconds. Ice pick headaches are usually a recurring problem and people will suffer sporadic attacks rather than prolonged bouts of migraines.
Sinus Headache
The sinuses are a series of linked cavities in the skull that are lined with mucosa tissue. Under certain conditions, like infection or congestion, the sinuses can become inflamed and build up blockages. This results in a sinus headache, which presents as an intense pain around the forehead, nose, eyes, upper mouth/teeth, or cheeks. The pain may also increase if you tilt forwards. Samsung gas range manual.
Cluster Headaches
A cluster headache usually appears on one side of the head and tends to occur at a similar time each day. The name comes from how cluster headaches are known to strike repeatedly over several days before vanishing for weeks or months. Cluster headaches strike with a burning, sharp, persistent pain that peaks after a few minutes and can last for up to an hour and a half. Tearing or congestion may also appear. The ailment is found about four times as often in men, and is known to run in families.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Also known as 'temporal arteritis', this condition is a type of one-sided head pain that is caused by inflammation ('-itis') of the inner lining of an artery in the head. Unfortunately, the cause of the condition isn't known. What is known is that giant cell arteritis can produce sharp, one-sided head pain, jaw pain (especially when eating), general tenderness in the scalp, a low-grade fever, and sometimes interfere with vision. That last symptom is one of the more problematic since, if left untreated, giant cell arteritis can lead to blindness.
Stroke
A stroke is basically the brain's version of a heart attack. Something has caused blood flow to part of the brain to get blocked or severely restricted, which in turn causes the affected section to starve and die. In addition to intense, sudden pain around the affected region, strokes commonly come with symptoms like muscle weakness, numbness, slurring of speech, paralysis, visual disturbances, or death if left untreated.
Brain Tumor
Depending on size and specific location, a brain tumor can cause little to no symptoms. If one grows large enough, the pressure it exerts will end up causing sharp pains in the head. Other symptoms will depend on where in the brain the tumor has grown, but can include things like movement or speech difficulties, personality changes, muscle weakness, vision disturbances, and so on.
Treating Sharp Pains in the Head
Given the different causes of headaches, there is no singular treatment. The treatment for a brain tumor (surgery, radiation therapy, etc.) is going to be dramatically different from the treatment for a stroke (clot-busting drugs, usually) or giant cell arteritis (corticosteroids). For headaches or migraines, the treatment options tend to be more limited and consist of minimizing aggravating factors and taking painkiller medication if it helps, which doesn't always happen. More specific treatment options may be possible depending on individual circumstances, which is why it's always important to talk to your doctor about these matters. They will be most familiar with your medical circumstances and personal needs and can help you find an effective treatment.
Possible Causes of Pain on Right Side of Waist
1. Kidney Diseases
The two kidneys in the human body are located within the pelvic space. If there is injury, trauma or abnormal functioning within one or both kidneys, you can experience abdominal pain. Kidney stones, infection and other kidney diseases also present with pain that begins in the lower abdomen and travels towards the lower back.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut and its specific cause is unknown. However, triggers include eating habits, diet and stress. Symptoms of IBS include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and pain in the lower abdomen. The disease is more prevalent in women than in men.
Right Side Abdominal Pain in Women Due to Pregnancy Growing baby. It is natural that as your baby grows, changes in your uterus will result in some mild abdominal pains. Round ligament pain. During pregnancy, it is normal to have occasional sharp jabbing pains during your second or third. Several different conditions can cause pain in the lower right area of the abdomen. Some of these are severe and require immediate medical attention, so it is important to know the differences.
3. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Common causes of right-sided abdominal pain include: Liver disease, liver cancer, or liver infection. These conditions can cause pain in the right side of your upper abdomen. Gallbladder disease or gallstones. Both of these conditions can be the source of pain in the right upper abdomen. A blood clot in the right lung may cause right upper abdominal pain that is sharp, severe and acute. Other symptoms of pulmonary embolism may include shortness of breath, cough, fast breathing, and blood-tinged sputum (mucus) with coughing. A painful lung infection is pneumonia, which may cause fever. Red Flags for Right Abdominal Pain.
Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID, refers to inflammatory condition that affects the female reproductive and urinary systems, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and the urethra. PID is a common cause of pain on right side of waist and the abdomen in women. It is caused by bacteria which can also lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Pain due to PID has a gradual onset. A victim of PID may notice an abnormal vaginal discharge and suffer deep-seated pain within the pelvis when having sex. She may also experience a burning sensation or pain when urinating.
4. Ovarian Cyst
Occasional Sharp Pain Right Side Of Abdomen
Ovarian cyst rupture and ovarian torsion are common ovarian problems that cause waist pain in female. In case of ovarian torsion, an ovary twists along the stack connecting it to the fallopian tube, similar to a fruit twisting on its stack. This cuts off blood supply to the ovary and also causes stress due to the pulling action. The result is severe pain within the lower abdomen and down to the upper thigh of the affected side. The patient may also experience nausea and vomiting, low fever and in some cases slight vaginal bleeding.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg is lodged or implanted outside the uterus. About 98 percent of the cases occur in the fallopian tubes. If ectopic pregnancy happens on the right side, the patient will experience pain on the right side of waist. Pain caused by ectopic pregnancy is sometimes accompanied by vaginal bleeding. In severe cases which involve rupture and internal bleeding into the abdominal cavity, the patient may get shoulder tip pain. Ectopic pregnancies are normally diagnosed between the 6th and 8th weeks of pregnancy.
6. Appendicitis
If you have pain on right side of waist that lasts for a few days and you also experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever, you could be suffering from appendicitis. The condition usually occurs within the first 30 years of life. In most instances, pain associated with appendicitis starts in the higher part around the belly button, and then spreads to the lower right side of the lower abdomen within one to two days. In some patients, the pain starts and remains in the right side where it gets more severe and is worsened by movements.
7. Biliary Colic
Biliary colic occurs when gallstones are trapped within the neck of the gallbladder. It may also be the result of gallbladder spasm. The pain may radiate from the upper abdomen, to the side of the waist, the back and below the right shoulder blade. The people who suffering from the excruciating pain usually keep moving or curling up in bed, searching for a position in which the pain will lessen. The patient may also get nauseated or even vomit. Pain associated with biliary colic usually lasts for about half an hour, although it may go on for hours, a day or even two before resolving. Biliary colic may be triggered by fatty or oily foods such as stews, fries, and heavy meals.
8. Other Causes
Pain in the right side of waist is not always caused by underlying problems. Sometimes it is the result of cramps arising from strenuous exercise or even poor sitting or sleeping positions. Other possible causes of pain on right side of waist include muscle strain or injury. If you experience a lingering pain on your waist or within the abdomen, you need to visit a medical professional who will conduct a physical examination and recommend an X-ray or MRI for proper diagnosis if necessary.
When to Seek Emergency Help
In the following cases, call for immediate medical care by dialing 911:
- Severe pain in the abdomen, side, flank or back
- Chest pain or pressure radiating to your shoulder blades, jaw, arms
- Bloody or black stool
- Throbbing mass in abdomen
- Sudden, severe and unexplained dizziness
- Labored breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion, fainting, lethargy, disorientation or other changes in level of alertness or consciousness
- Difficulty in urinating
- Deformity in the rib cage
- Bloody vomit or vomiting black materials that resemble coffee grounds
Headaches come in several different forms, and recurring, sharp pains in the head can be among the most jarring and disruptive. Unfortunately, as annoying and distressing as headaches can be, they are not the easiest symptom to diagnose. There is a variety of potential underlying causes that range from the benign to the life-threatening. Being able to understand some of the nuances of head pain and the potential associated symptoms to watch for can help you better inform your doctor and hopefully arrive at the correct diagnoses.
First, Terminology
When speaking to your doctor, it can help to be as specific as possible. Saying you have a sharp pain on the right or left side of the head can be descriptive and useful, but the more precise you can be in the description, the better the diagnoses will be. When describing a sharp pain in the head, make sure to specify if you mean something like:
- A knife-like pain, as if you are being stabbed in the head
- The headache is sudden and severe
- The headache is an intense, painful throbbing
- You are experiencing a shooting sensation in your head
You should also try and mention any activities you were doing when the pain occurred (take notes if you need to) as well as duration and location.
Possible Causes for Sharp Pain in the Head
Migraines
Although they are more common among women, migraines can affect anyone. The severity of a migraine can vary from person to person, so what might be crippling for one individual could merely be annoying for another. Migraines tend to present with severe pain beginning around an eye or temple, and then migrate to the back of the head as a sort of pulsing sensation. Possible associated symptoms include nausea, runny nose, watering eyes, sensitivity to light, numbness or tingling, and visual disturbances ('auras').
Ice Pick Headaches
As the name implies, this is a type of headache that features a sharp, stabbing pain in one region of the head or behind an ear. The pain can be sudden and frightening, but usually only lasts for up to 30 seconds. Ice pick headaches are usually a recurring problem and people will suffer sporadic attacks rather than prolonged bouts of migraines.
Sinus Headache
The sinuses are a series of linked cavities in the skull that are lined with mucosa tissue. Under certain conditions, like infection or congestion, the sinuses can become inflamed and build up blockages. This results in a sinus headache, which presents as an intense pain around the forehead, nose, eyes, upper mouth/teeth, or cheeks. The pain may also increase if you tilt forwards. Samsung gas range manual.
Cluster Headaches
A cluster headache usually appears on one side of the head and tends to occur at a similar time each day. The name comes from how cluster headaches are known to strike repeatedly over several days before vanishing for weeks or months. Cluster headaches strike with a burning, sharp, persistent pain that peaks after a few minutes and can last for up to an hour and a half. Tearing or congestion may also appear. The ailment is found about four times as often in men, and is known to run in families.
Giant Cell Arteritis
Also known as 'temporal arteritis', this condition is a type of one-sided head pain that is caused by inflammation ('-itis') of the inner lining of an artery in the head. Unfortunately, the cause of the condition isn't known. What is known is that giant cell arteritis can produce sharp, one-sided head pain, jaw pain (especially when eating), general tenderness in the scalp, a low-grade fever, and sometimes interfere with vision. That last symptom is one of the more problematic since, if left untreated, giant cell arteritis can lead to blindness.
Stroke
A stroke is basically the brain's version of a heart attack. Something has caused blood flow to part of the brain to get blocked or severely restricted, which in turn causes the affected section to starve and die. In addition to intense, sudden pain around the affected region, strokes commonly come with symptoms like muscle weakness, numbness, slurring of speech, paralysis, visual disturbances, or death if left untreated.
Brain Tumor
Depending on size and specific location, a brain tumor can cause little to no symptoms. If one grows large enough, the pressure it exerts will end up causing sharp pains in the head. Other symptoms will depend on where in the brain the tumor has grown, but can include things like movement or speech difficulties, personality changes, muscle weakness, vision disturbances, and so on.
Treating Sharp Pains in the Head
Given the different causes of headaches, there is no singular treatment. The treatment for a brain tumor (surgery, radiation therapy, etc.) is going to be dramatically different from the treatment for a stroke (clot-busting drugs, usually) or giant cell arteritis (corticosteroids). For headaches or migraines, the treatment options tend to be more limited and consist of minimizing aggravating factors and taking painkiller medication if it helps, which doesn't always happen. More specific treatment options may be possible depending on individual circumstances, which is why it's always important to talk to your doctor about these matters. They will be most familiar with your medical circumstances and personal needs and can help you find an effective treatment.
When to Seek Medical Attention
In addition to the more problematic causes outlined above, headaches can also be the result of many benign causes, so it is easy to mistake something serious for something mild or vice-versa. A few general rules of thumb:
- Any severe headache that suddenly appears without warning or discernable cause should be brought to your doctor's attention and needs to be checked out
- Persistent or recurrent headaches that undergo a change in frequency, severity, or steadily worsen should warrant a consult with your doctor
- Headaches that accompany red eyes, physical injury, visual disturbances (but isn't a migraine), or cognitive/personality changes deserve immediate medical attention
Occasional Sharp Pain On Right Side
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