What Causes Pain Below the Right Ribs?
May 30, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Ge
Introduction
There are generally three common causes of pain in the right lower rib cage:
First, physical strain or poor posture—such as prolonged sitting with a hunched back and no lumbar support.
Second, exposure to cold and damp weather.
Third, emotional factors—such as frequent anger or irritability; this type of pain is often described as distending or胀痛 (a sensation of fullness or pressure), which may occur during episodes of emotional upset.
Consider whether any of these three factors apply to you. If so, addressing the underlying cause(s) may help alleviate the pain.
Pain in the right lower rib area is most commonly due to musculoskeletal strain.
First and foremost, however, visceral causes must be ruled out. Structures located beneath the right lower ribs include the liver and the pleura. Conditions such as pleuritis or hepatic disorders should therefore be considered. An abdominal ultrasound is recommended to help exclude these possibilities. If the abdominal ultrasound results are normal and a chest X-ray also shows no abnormalities, the right lower rib pain is typically attributable to ordinary strain-related inflammation.
This inflammation may involve the periosteum covering the rib, the fascia overlying the muscles, or the muscle tissue itself. Occasionally, superficial skin conditions—such as herpes zoster—can also cause pain in this region.
Generally speaking, if visceral and dermatological causes have been excluded, the three most common reasons for right lower rib pain are: (1) physical strain or poor posture—for example, prolonged sitting with thoracic kyphosis and inadequate lumbar support; (2) exposure to cold, damp weather; and (3) emotional factors—such as frequent anger or stress, which may manifest as distending or stabbing pain. Consider whether any of these three factors apply; addressing them appropriately often leads to symptom relief.
