What causes pain in lower right back and hip

6 Reasons You May Be Experiencing Back and Hip Pain

This content was medically reviewed by Baher S. Yanni, MD, on February 8th, 2021.

Pain can be distressing, especially if you’re not sure what brought it on. If you are experiencing back and hip pain, these aggravating symptoms are usually the result of overuse or injury. The frustrating aspect of combined hip and back pain is that many different causes could be to blame.

Back pain can easily be mistaken for hip discomfort. The joint of your hip is located near your spine, so certain health conditions and injuries affect the nerves in both of these areas. That means the culprit of your hip and back pain could overlap.

What causes pain in lower right back and hip

Here are six reasons you may be experiencing pain in both your lower back and your hip.

1. Muscle Strain or Sprain

Sprains and strains are the most common causes of pain around your back and hip region. Sprains are torn or overstretched ligaments, while strains impact the muscles or tendons. These injuries can occur when you lift something heavy. They might also occur due to a sports injury, a fall or simply twisting your body in an awkward way.

2. Tight Hip Flexors

If you sit for long periods of time every day, your hip and back pain may be caused by tight hip flexors. These muscles are responsible for a wide range of motion in your legs and hips. When they’re overly tight or stiff, you can experience back and hip pain.

3. Pinched Nerve

The nerves in your spine and other parts of your body can become compressed by surrounding bones, muscle or tissue. Because this pressure interrupts proper nerve function, a pinched nerve can lead to discomfort or shooting pain. So, your aching back and uncomfortable hips may be the result of a pinched nerve in your back, spine or hip.

4. Herniated Disc

Also called a slipped or ruptured disc, this condition occurs when one of the cushioning discs that protect your vertebrae slips out of place. This change can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing them to become irritated or inflamed. Often, those with herniated discs experience tingling or burning pain in their lower back that can extend to the hips or legs.

5. Arthritis 

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that can impact one or more of your joints. Osteoarthritis, specifically, can lead to a breakdown of cartilage in the spine. Without this protective cushioning, the spinal bones can rub together and put pressure on the nerves, thus impacting your lower back and hips.

6. Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

The sacroiliac or SI joint connects the lower portion of your spine to the pelvis. The joint absorbs shock experienced between your upper body and legs. A strain or injury to the SI joint can lead to radiating hip and back pain. SI dysfunction can also occur when this joint moves too much or too little, leading to pain in the back and hips. 

Find Back and Hip Pain Relief at Spine INA

Back and hip pain should not inhibit your day to day life. If you feel discouraged because of your chronic symptoms, it’s time to schedule your appointment at Spine INA. Our experienced team will diagnose your back and hip pain and work with you to develop an individual treatment approach so that you can get back to enjoying your life. Contact us today to learn more.

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Overview

What is lower right back pain? What does it feel like?

Lower right back pain can feel mild like a dull ache, moderate like a heavy weight or severe with a piercing stab. The pain can come and go or last a long time.

Pain can radiate, which means it can spread from one place in your body to another. For example, the nerves that are part of your kidneys are connected to the nerves attached to the ligaments and tissues in your back. So, if your kidneys hurt, you might also feel pain in your back, including the lower right section of your back.

How common is lower right back pain?

Around 80% of people in the U.S. experience back pain at some point in their life. It’s unclear how many experience pain in the lower right section, specifically.

Is lower right back pain normal in early pregnancy?

Yes. Lower back pain — on the left or the right side — is very common in those who are pregnant.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes lower right back pain? What is lower right back pain a symptom of?

Causes of lower right back pain can be divided into two categories: mechanical problems and underlying conditions. Mechanical problems have to do with the bones and tissues in your back — your ligaments, spine, tendons and muscles. Underlying conditions are disorders of your organs. Pain from conditions that affect your organs can radiate to your back.

Mechanical problems:

Soft tissues:

  • Muscle tightness.
  • Round ligaments.
  • Sprain of a ligament.
  • Strain of a muscle.

Spine:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Degenerative spondylolisthesis.
  • Intervertebral disk degeneration.
  • Radiculopathy.
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
  • Spinal disk degeneration.
  • Spinal stenosis.
  • Tumor.

Underlying conditions:

  • Appendicitis.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Gallbladder inflammation.
  • Kidney infection.
  • Kidney stones.
  • Liver problems.
  • Myofascial pain syndrome.
  • Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
  • Urinary tract infections.

People assigned female at birth:

  • Endometriosis.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Uterine fibroids.

People assigned male at birth:

  • Testicular torsion.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is lower right back pain diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will interview you. They’ll want to know about your symptoms, how severe they are, how long you’ve had them and more. Be sure to not just tell them about your back pain, but also about any other symptoms you have. For example, if you also have pain while urinating, fatigue, blood in your stool, etc., let your provider know.

Which healthcare providers evaluate and diagnose lower right back pain?

Your primary healthcare provider can help first. They’ll send you to a specialist if needed.

Management and Treatment

How long will I have lower right back pain?

How long you’ll have lower right back pain depends on the cause. Pain from strains can last a few days. Pain from kidney stones will last until the stones are passed or removed. Pain from degeneration may last a lifetime, depending.

How is lower right back pain treated?

How your lower right back pain is treated depends on the cause. A few examples of treatments include:

Stretching and/or massage, for:

  • Pelvic pain.
  • Sprains.
  • Strains.

Surgery, for:

  • Appendicitis (appendectomy).
  • Endometriosis.
  • Kidney stones.
  • Spinal stenosis.

Antibiotics, for:

  • Kidney infections.
  • Urinary tract infections.

Over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®), for.

  • Spinal pain.
  • Sprains.
  • Strains.

Physical therapy and strengthening exercises:

  • Pelvic pain.
  • Spinal stenosis.
  • Sprains.
  • Strains.

What kind of healthcare provider treats lower right back pain?

Your primary healthcare provider may be able to help you with most causes of lower right back pain. But, if needed, they can refer you to a specialist, physical therapist or surgeon.

How soon after treatment will I feel better?

If your pain is caused by a urinary tract infection, your pain may be gone after the seven to 10-day course of antibiotics. If it’s caused by endometriosis, the pain might be with you longer as that’s a lifelong issue. When you talk to your healthcare provider about the cause of your pain, find out what the timeline is.

Prevention

Can lower right back pain be prevented?

Some causes of back pain, including injuries like sprains and strains, may be prevented. You can do so by stretching before sports and crouching instead of leaning over to lift something.

Outlook / Prognosis

Can lower right back pain go away on its own?

Yes, some causes of back pain can go away on their own. Treatment can get rid of the pain faster.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Talk to your healthcare provider about a timeline regarding when you can get back to your normal activities.

Can lower right back pain return after it’s been treated?

Yes.

Living With

Can I live a normal life with lower right back pain?

Yes but, without treatment, the pain could get worse.

When should I contact my healthcare provider?

See your healthcare provider soon if your lower right back pain is severe, constant or getting worse. You should see a provider quicker if you have lower right back pain plus:

  • Urine (pee) that is bloody or cloudy, if it smells bad or if peeing is painful.
  • You find blood or pus in your poop.
  • Fever.
  • Vomiting.
  • Nausea.
  • Groin pain.
  • Irregular periods.
  • Pain during or after sex.

When should I go to the emergency department?

Lower right back pain is sometimes a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency department if:

  • Your pain is so severe that you can’t go about your daily activities.
  • You have pain and incontinence, nausea, fever or vomiting.
  • The pain is sudden and severe.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Keep a careful eye on your symptoms. You may want to keep a record of when you experience lower right back pain, how severe it is and if there are other symptoms along with it. This can help your healthcare provider diagnose and treat you.

Remember: The pain in the lower right part of your back can sometimes be as minor as a sprain that can be fixed with time and ice packs, but it can be as major as a spinal tumor. Report your symptoms to your healthcare provider so that they can give you the right diagnosis, and then the right treatment. If you don’t get treatment for pain caused by, for example, a kidney or liver problem, there could be permanent damage done to those organs.

What can cause pain in your lower right side and back?

Possible causes of lower back pain on the right side include sprains and strains, kidney stones, infections, and conditions that affect the intestines or reproductive organs. People should consult a doctor if they experience lower back pain that does not improve with rest or affects their daily life.

What organ is in the lower right back hip area?

Your appendix is a small tube that attaches to your large intestine and sits in the lower right side of your body.

When should I worry about lower right back pain?

If the pain lasts four weeks or longer. If the pain keeps getting worse as time goes by. If you are experiencing other symptoms, such as fever, major weight loss or weight gain, loss of function or weakness in extremities, bladder problems, etc.