Lower Right Back Pain

When is comes to back pain, one of the most often voiced complaints relates to lower right back pain. Many times it is due to overworked or strained muscles. Underlying medical conditions can also be a cause of back pain, such as kidney infection or kidney stones. This pain is commonly felt on either side of the lower back, depending on the side the affected kidney is on.

The kidneys are located on the left and right side of the back just above the hips. An infection or stones in the right kidney will present as lower right back pain. Proper testing and diagnosis along with treatment will relieve the pain.

Other internal organs, such as an aneurysm of abdominal aorta, pancreas, and lungs can result in lower back pain.

Some causes of lower right back pain:

• Not warming up the muscles before exercising. Spend a little time stretching before running or doing strenuous exercise to prevent injury to muscles


• Weight gain can cause sudden pain in the lower back, which can result in a change of your center of gravity.


• The wear and tear on the joints as we age


• Improper lifting techniques. Use your legs when lifting. Not your back.


• Herniated discs pinching delicate nerves, such as the sciatic nerve


• Degenerative disc and joint diseases


• Osteoporosis which causes loss of bone density resulting in lower right back pain


• Bad posture


• Pregnancy as the abdomen grows causing a change in the center of gravity

There are numerous reasons that can cause the muscles and bones of the body to become painful and disrupt daily life and activities. Most problems can be preventable if we take special care of our bodies during life.

Prevention of lower right back pain:

Exercise helps to keep the body fit and trim. It also helps us to burn calories and prevents excess weight gain. Simply walking is very helpful in avoiding most back pain and injuries to our muscles and bones.

Back pain should never be ignored. In order to ease lower right back pain it is important to know what is causing it. Taking pain medication can give temporary relief, but if the cause is due to a disorder of an internal organ, this will take a different approach to eradicating the pain.

Eating a healthy diet that is rich in fiber will prevent constipation. Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys to flush toxins and other poisons out of your system, as well as providing for much needed fluids to joints and vertebral discs.

Rest and relaxation, in addition to reduction in stress can help to prevent lower back pain. Constant and relentless stress puts stain on the body and contributes to back pain. Removing the factors in your life that cause you stress, will result in a decrease of back pain.
by Barb Hicks, RN