Right upper quadrant and flank pain

The right upper quadrant lies beneath the right ribs, while flank pain is more toward the side or back between the ribs and hip. Pain under the ribs after a meal, especially with nausea, can involve the gallbladder. Pain moving from the flank towards the groin may occur with a kidney stone. Fever, chills or painful urination can accompany a kidney infection or urinary tract infection. A pulled muscle may hurt more with twisting, lifting or touch.

These patterns are clues rather than a diagnosis. A clinician may check the abdomen and back, ask about bowel and urine changes, and arrange blood, urine or imaging tests according to the findings.

Seek medical advice if pain lasts, keeps returning or limits normal activity. Write down its exact location, whether it follows food or movement, and any fever, vomiting, jaundice, urine change or bowel change. Sip fluids if tolerated, avoid alcohol until the cause is clearer, and do not use leftover antibiotics. Check with a pharmacist before pain medicine if you have liver or kidney disease, ulcers, pregnancy or regular prescriptions.

Get urgent help for severe or worsening pain, a rigid or very tender abdomen, repeated vomiting, fever with chills, yellow skin or eyes, faintness, blood in urine or stool, inability to pass urine, or pain during pregnancy. Sudden pain with breathing difficulty or collapse is an emergency.

Ask which organs may be involved, whether urine or abdominal imaging is needed, what symptoms would change the urgency, and which pain medicines and foods are safest while you wait.