Pain on Right Side Under Ribs Towards Back: 6 Best Causes and Treatments

By - Dr. Afifa Amer

Nothing is more rose than an uncomfortable feeling under right rib cage.

If you have been experiencing acute pain on the right side of your rib cage, below your breast area towards your back, then you may be wondering what the cause could be.

Rib pain can be caused by various factors and may require several treatments depending on your condition’s specific cause and severity.

So what causes pain on right side under ribs towards back?

Pain under the right rib towards the back can be caused by minor aches and pains to significant medical conditions such as kidney stones or broken ribs. While some types of rib pain are nothing to worry about. However, others may be signs of serious problems that need immediate medical attention.

Find out more about the causes of the pain on the right side under the ribs towards the back and what you can do to address them with this article.

Top 6 Causes of Pain on Right Side Under Ribs Towards Back

As I said earlier, pain under the right ribs towards the back can be caused by several factors. While some may seem minor, they can certainly interfere with your quality of life. 

Here are some common causes of right rib pain and pain on right side under ribs towards back treatment.

Gastrointestinal Problem

When you have gas problems, it can cause pain under your right rib, and it can go all the way to the back. This is because the gas is putting pressure on your organs, and rib pain right side tender to touch.

It is understandable if the pain under the right ribs is due to gastric issues. Because gas pain under ribs right side is infrequent and tends to travel all along your chest, under the ribs towards the back.

Some people experience stomach aches in addition to their side ribs hurting when they have gas trouble.

Treatment Options

The best way to eliminate this pain is to release the gas. You can do this by burping or passing gas.

Or, if you have persistent pain for days, you can go to a gastroenterologist for help with these issues. Sometimes they will insert a tube into your stomach through your mouth and let out the gas.

If you have a chronic gastrointestinal issue, they may also give you some medicine to take care of the problem.

Bruises or Bone Injury

While you may have first assumed that the pain you’re experiencing is related to something you ate, it’s more likely that you’ve bruised, broken, or strained a muscle under your right ribs.

Untreated pain can cause it to elevate and reach the back. Bruises, breaks, and strains are the most common causes of pain under the right ribs.

These injuries can occur from a fall or an accident in the past, or probably a few hours ago. In those cases, you will find dull pain under right rib cage comes and goes.

Treatment Options

Treatment for these injuries will vary depending on the severity of the injury, which mainly includes ice packs, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication.

You may only need to rest and ice the back area for a slight bruise. For more extensive bruising or swelling, you may need to take anti-inflammatory medication (consult a doctor) and avoid any strenuous activity until the area has healed completely.

If there is significant damage to the rib cage, it might be necessary to wear a sling or brace during recovery. If you have broken one of your ribs, you’ll likely need surgery to repair the break.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are one of the most common causes of sharp stabbing pain in right side under rib cage when breathing. If you are experiencing pain under the right rib cage, your right kidney is causing the trouble.

Kidney stones can cause severe pain in your back, sides, or groin. Since the kidneys are positioned towards the back, kidney stones can cause severe pain in your side and back.

These stones are small, hard deposits that form in your kidneys. The pain is caused by the stone pressing on your kidney or ureter, the tube that drains urine from your kidney to your bladder. Other than the pain, you may experience some other symptoms, like

Treatment Options

Kidney stones will often pass through your urinary tract without any problems.

If this is not the case, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor will examine you to find out what type of stone you have and where it is located and remove it.

Nowadays, removing kidney stones does not require a full-fledged operation. Doctors use non-operative ‘Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy’ to remove kidney stones within less than half an hour.

Muscle Pull

Muscle pull in the back right is the most common cause of pain under the right ribs. The muscle can become strained from sporting, overuse, repetitive motions, or lifting something heavy.

The pain is usually dull and achy and may worsen with deep breaths or coughing.

Treatment Options

Treatment for a mild to moderate muscle strain includes applying ice packs, heat therapy, muscle relaxant ointments or sprays to reduce inflammation, light-handed massage, and gentle stretching exercises.

Acute muscle pulls often heal on their own within a few weeks. If the pain persists for more than six weeks, you should see your doctor to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms, such as an underlying medical condition.

GallStones

Gallstones are small, hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. They’re usually made of cholesterol and can cause severe pain in your abdomen on the right side, under your ribs. The pain is caused by the stones blocking the bile duct.

Since the gallbladder is located on the right side under the rib cage, gallstones are a common cause of pain under the right ribs, and sometimes the pain can travel towards the back.

In some cases, gallstones can migrate from the gallbladder to the pancreas or duodenum, where they may cause pain. You might also experience other symptoms like nausea and vomiting if the pain becomes severe.

Treatment Options

If you have a history of gallstones and develop this type of abdominal pain, see a doctor immediately to avoid severe complications like pancreatitis or perforation of the bowel. 

Treatment options include surgery to remove the stones or medication to dissolve them. In some cases, they can be removed through non-surgical procedures which as endoscopy.

Your doctor will choose the treatment option depending on the severity of your pain.

Liver Issues

Don’t get distressed thinking the pain under your ribs towards your back is due to any severe liver issue. Liver issues could be mild as well.

The liver is on the right side of the abdomen, just below the ribs. It can become inflamed or diseased for several reasons, including alcohol abuse or a fatty diet. The most common cause of liver disease, though, is autoimmune hepatitis.

Liver issues can lead to inflammation in the gallbladder, which may also cause pain in that area, which may migrate towards the back right.  

Mildly elevated bilirubin levels (a type of bile) can also lead to discomfort in this area.

Treatment Options

You should consult your doctor if you experience persistent or worsening symptoms like fever, vomiting, jaundice, or upper abdominal pain. In some cases, surgery might be necessary to repair the problem.

As long as there are no other concerning symptoms, doctors will typically recommend supportive treatments such as rest, fluids, and medications to help manage the pain.

FAQs

What causes dull pain under rib cage female?

One common cause of dull pain under the right rib cage of females is gastric issues just before the start of a menstruation cycle. Another reason can be gallstones. Significantly few people with gallstones experience dull pain with no symptoms during the initial days of gallstone diagnosis.

What causes dull pain under left rib cage?

There are several possible causes for this type of pain. These include gas, a pulled muscle, or even suffering from a left kidney stone. However, this type of pain is often caused by a simple stomach ache.

What causes sudden sharp pain under right rib cage?

It could be untreated gallstones or kidney stones causing severe and sharp pain right under the right rib cage. The intense pain can also be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

What causes an uncomfortable feeling under right rib cage?

The discomfort under the right rib cage is possible due to unhealthy eating, causing gas issues. This is temporary and relieves by itself most of the time.

Final Thought

These were some of the common causes of why you may experience pain under your right ribs back side. There are some possible external treatment options that you can carry on at home for mild issues like muscle pull, gastric problems, or swelling.

However, if the pain is very sharp and causing discomfort in your daily life, you must visit the doctor. Do not take any unprescribed medication or rely on the internet for treatment.