Low Back Pain On The Right Side - What Does It Mean?

Low back pain can be annoying, but it can also be extremely painful and feel super serious. Sometimes the pain can be just a dull ache while at other times it can feel like someone has stabbed you in the side!

Pain can also radiate throughout your body, spreading from one location to another making it hard to identify the cause of things or to know what is really going on in your body. One example of this is back pain that feels like it is specific to your right side.

In this blog we explore some of the causes of low back pain on the right side and what you can do about it. Let's go!

Causes Of Back Pain On The Right Side

When it comes to back pain that is specific to the right side of your body, there are quite a few different things that could be causing it. Not only are back sprains and strains common, but your kidneys are also located on this side of the body and their nerves are connected to the nerves attached to the ligaments and tissues in your back. This means that if your kidneys are hurting, it could feel like your back hurts, rather than a specific pain in your kidneys.

What Organs Are Located On The Right Hand Side Of Your Body?

If you are experiencing low back pain on the right hand side of your body it is probably a good idea to know which organs are located in that area. There are actually quite a few important organs that are located on the lower right hand side of your body. Some of these are:

• Kidneys

• Ureter

• Intestines

• Ovaries

• Appendix

What Causes Lower Back Pain On The Right Hand Side?

Generally, the causes of pain in your lower right hand side can be divided into two different categories:

1. Mechanical Issues

2. Underlying Conditions

1. Mechanical Issues

   
   

The term “mechanical” usually refers to problems with the tissues and bones found in your back. This could be things like torn or stretched ligaments, tendons, or muscles. It can also induce more serious conditions such as:

• Disk degeneration

• Ankylosing spondylitis

• Degenerative spondylolisthesis

• Spinal stenosis

• Tumors

2. Underlying Conditions

   
   

There are also a variety of underlying conditions that can affect low back pain. These conditions generally involve your internal organs and include diseases like:

• Appendicitis

• Fibromyalgia

• Gallbladder inflammation

• Kidney infection

• Kidney stones

• Liver problems

• Myofascial pain syndrome

• Pelvic inflammatory diseases

• Urinary tract infections

Causes Of Right Side Lower Back Pain In Women

Women can sometimes have unique issues when it comes to having pain on your right hand side. While this could technically fall under underlying conditions we feel like it should get it's own category. Some of the conditions affecting women specifically include:

• Pregnancy

• Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases

• Fibroids

• Urinary Tract Infections

Pregnancy is a condition that commonly causes pain on your right hand side. UTIs and other conditions that affect the reproductive organs can also cause significant pain.

If you are a female and you have pain on your right side that is intense, has red flags with it, or hasn’t gone away on its own after a few days or weeks, you should definitely see your healthcare provider to make sure that nothing is going on that requires immediate medical attention.

How Can I Tell If My Back Pain Is Muscular, Or Something More Serious?

While it is always a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider if your back pain feels serious or if it isn’t getting better after a few weeks, there are a few things to pay special attention to. If there are any red flags present such as a fever, a history of cancer, or numbness, you should definitely speak with your healthcare provider right away.

If your pain starts to extend to your arms, forearms, or hands, the cause of the pain might be in your cervical spine. Alternatively, pain that radiates down your legs may indicate an issue with your lumbar spine.

How Long Will The Pain On My Lower Right Back Last?

Back pain is notoriously hard to treat and therefore it is often even harder to predict how long it will last. Back pain that happens because of a strain or sprain can last just a few days while something like kidney stones may take longer. If your pain is due to disk degeneration it might be more chronic and need long term care.

How Can I Treat Low Back Pain On The Right Hand Side?

Treatment for low back pain should be individualized based on the cause of the pain and its origins. There are many different types of treatment for low back pain so knowing as much as you can about your condition can help your healthcare provider customize your treatment as much as possible.

Some treatments for low back pain on the right can include the following:

1. Stretching: Used for strains and sprains

2. Physical Therapy: Strains, Sprains, Spinal stenosis

3. Surgery: Kidney Stones, Endometriosis, appendicitis

4. Medications (antibiotics): Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Kidney infections

At Home Treatments For Back Pain On Your Right Hand Side

Once you are sure that there isn’t anything medically more serious happening, there are some at-home treatments that are available for pain on your right hand side. Some treatments include:

• Over the counter pain medications

• Hot and cold packs

• Topical pain relievers

• Exercise

• Virtual physical therapy

• Yoga

• Pilates

When Should I Worry About Pain On The Right Hand Side?

While right-sided low back pain is often caused by muscle strain, poor posture, or overuse, it can occasionally signal something more serious. If your pain is accompanied by warning signs—such as fever, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, recent trauma, or difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels—it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. These “red flags” could indicate an underlying condition that requires urgent care. When in doubt, don’t wait—contact your doctor, visit the emergency room, or call 911 if symptoms feel severe or unusual.

Conclusions

While back pain can feel alarming, the good news is that most cases improve on their own within a few weeks. However, when the pain is localized to one side—especially the right—it may signal that something else is going on.

Because several vital organs, including the liver, kidneys, and appendix, are located on the right side of the body, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider. They can rule out or identify any underlying conditions and ensure you get timely treatment if needed.