What should you know about pain in my right flank area?

The flank lies between the lower ribs and hip. Pain that follows lifting, twisting, coughing, or pressing the muscles may be mechanical. Deeper pain with nausea or waves of cramping can occur with kidney stones. A kidney infection commonly presents with right flank pain together with fever, chills, feeling unwell, or painful urination. A urinary tract infection usually presents with burning, urgency, or frequent urination, while flank pain or fever suggests the infection may need more urgent attention. The right side also borders bowel and abdominal structures, so location alone cannot establish the cause.

Tell a clinician whether the pain is constant or intermittent, whether it travels toward the groin, and whether there is vomiting, urine discolouration, bowel change, or a recent injury.

Pause heavy lifting and note which movements affect the pain. Keep a record of temperature, urinary symptoms, vomiting, and any medicines used. Drink your usual amount unless you have been given fluid restrictions; forcing fluids is not a treatment for severe pain or ongoing vomiting. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about suitable pain relief if you have kidney problems, ulcers, take blood thinners, or could be pregnant. Do not delay evaluation simply because the pain comes and goes.

Seek urgent care for sudden severe right-sided pain, fainting, confusion, repeated vomiting, a hard or very tender abdomen, or inability to pass urine. Arrange same-day advice when flank pain occurs with fever, chills, blood in the urine, or painful urination. People who are pregnant or have one kidney or known kidney disease should seek advice promptly. Ongoing or worsening pain also warrants an examination.

What features point to a kidney, muscle, urinary, or abdominal cause? Should I have a urine test or scan? Which pain medicine is appropriate for me? How quickly should I return if the symptoms change?