What should you know about right lateral flank pain?

The flank is the side of the body between the lower ribs and the hip. Pain there may be muscular, especially after lifting, twisting or coughing, but urinary causes can also occur. Kidney Stones can cause intense, wave-like pain that may travel towards the groin. Kidney Infection may bring flank discomfort with fever, chills, nausea or urinary changes. Urinary Tract Infection symptoms often involve burning or frequent urination, although flank pain needs medical attention when it accompanies these features.

Note whether the pain is constant or comes in waves, and record fever, vomiting, urine changes, bowel symptoms and recent injury. Rest from activities that clearly worsen muscular pain, but do not ignore persistent or unexplained pain. A clinician may examine your abdomen and back and arrange urine testing or imaging according to the pattern. The Flank Pain guide gives more background.

Get urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening pain, fainting, confusion, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine, or blood in the urine with significant pain. Seek prompt assessment for flank pain with fever or chills because infection can require treatment. Pregnancy, a single functioning kidney or recent abdominal injury also lowers the threshold for urgent advice.

Ask whether the pattern suggests muscle, kidney or another source; whether urine tests or imaging are needed; and which changes mean you should return urgently.