Back pain on the lower right side of the back can be frustrating and debilitating. It can bring whatever joy you’re having in a day crashing down around you in a searing reminder that you’re miles away from feeling normal. Therefore, it’s imperative to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible to improve your quality of life and prevent future issues.
Some known causes of lower right side back pain include:
Driving
If you drive a car in the US and have pain on the right side of your lower back, it could be due to all the driving you’ve been doing.
Driving causes a lot of strain on your lower back. Your back muscles are constantly being used to keep you in place while you drive, and therein lies the issue.
Let me explain:
When you drive, the sciatic nerve is stimulated by the pressure that occurs when you step foot on the gas pedal. This pressure is responsible for the jolt of pain in the right of your lower back.
On an aside:
European-based drivers might experience similar amounts of lower back pain, but instead of in their right, it would pop up frequently in their left lower backs because of the different position of the gas pedal in that part of the globe.
The following are some symptoms that are associated with driving-induced right-sided low back pain:
- Tight hamstrings;
- Sitting in traffic makes the pain worse;
- You may experience changes of sensation – this could be buzzing, tingling, numbness, or pain in your thigh, calf, or foot;
- Over striding during a run result in pain;
- You may experience tightness in your neck or shoulder blades.
When You Sit And Twist
We’re at some point in time guilty of twisting our bodies when we sit.
At home, while sitting on the couch, in the office while working on your desk, reaching for something to the right (especially mobile phones) while sitting and buckled up in the car.
Here’s how it causes pain:
Pain occurs on the lower right back when you sit and twist to the right because the move puts pressure on the lower spinal discs, causing the jelly-like material inside that disk to move and then slip out of position.
When this occurs, it might be the answer to the question: “why do I feel pain on one the right side of my lower back when I stand after sitting for a while?”
Other symptoms may include:
- Pain gets worse in the mornings
- Pain while sitting
- When you walk, the pain subsides
- Difficulty in exiting a car
- Having a hard time wearing your shoes and pants in the morning
Finally, it is vital to differentiate the pain caused while sitting with a twist from that caused by spinal disc injuries. Number one, the latter is caused by trauma; secondly, you can treat pain caused by sitting and twisting without surgery, injections, and pills.
Non-surgical solutions that alleviate (or prevent) pain in the lower right back as a result of sitting with a twist include walking, using a chair with lumbar support, and chiropractic adjustments are a few examples.
Sports Requiring Many Asymmetrical Movements
Sports requiring many asymmetrical movements, such as baseball, softball, tennis, cricket, field hockey, ice hockey, and golf, can cause lower right back pain. These sports are typically played during a period of time when the spine is not fully aligned. It can cause strain on the muscles and ligaments of the spine, leading to injury or stiffness over time.
Additionally, wear and tear is a common feature in these athletes. These sports require tremendous amounts of force exerted across an extensive range of motion over a long time. This puts additional stress on the lower back muscles, which may become fatigued or injured if they are not strong enough to handle this load over time.
Invariably, strengthening the core is essential to any successful workout program. Core strength helps support your spine and helps keep it from getting out of alignment. A strong core can help prevent injuries and improve performance in all kinds of sports, not only in sports requiring asymmetrical movements.
Pain Due To Issues Affecting Internal Organ(s)
Back pain on the lower right side can be caused by several issues affecting internal organs. One of these is gallbladder problems, which can lead to constipation, nausea, and pain in the abdomen. Furthermore, pain on the lower right side of the back can also be caused by kidney stones, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and liver problems.
If you have any of these conditions, seeking prompt medical attention is essential. In most cases, surgery is the best form of treatment.
Deconditioned Or Poor Stability (The So-Called “Instability Case”)
Sometimes the pain on the right side of your lower back may shift to the left. Know that you’re not losing your mind. When lower back pain shifts sides, it could be caused by any of the following issues: a biomechanical loading problem, a mobility problem, or a stability problem. Or a combination of any of the three.
Lastly, this condition should not be mistaken for a clinically unstable spine, as seen in fractures or spondylolisthesis.
