November 2026

Upper Right Abdominal Pain: Causes and Warning Signs

By Your Health Magazine Health Information Team

Pain in the upper right abdomen can come from the gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, right kidney, digestive tract, abdominal muscles, or even the lower right lung. Gallstones are a common possibility, particularly when pain begins after eating or spreads toward the right shoulder or back. Because the same location can also hurt during infections and other serious conditions, severe, persistent, or worsening pain should be medically evaluated.

Common Causes of Upper Right Abdominal Pain

Possible cause	Typical clues
Gallstones or gallbladder inflammation	Steady or intense pain beneath the right ribs, often after a heavy or fatty meal; nausea, vomiting, or pain near the right shoulder blade may occur.
Liver or bile duct problems	Discomfort or fullness under the right ribs, sometimes with fatigue, itching, jaundice, dark urine, pale stool, or abdominal swelling.
Stomach or intestinal conditions	Burning, bloating, indigestion, nausea, or pain related to meals. Possible causes include peptic ulcers, inflammation, constipation, and trapped gas.
Kidney infection or stone	Pain more toward the side or back, possibly spreading toward the groin. Urinary symptoms, blood in the urine, fever, or chills may occur.
Lung or pleural conditions	Pain that worsens with a deep breath or cough, especially with fever, coughing, or shortness of breath.
Muscle, rib, or nerve pain	Pain after lifting, exercise, coughing, or an injury; it may worsen with movement or pressure. Shingles can cause burning pain followed by a one-sided blistering rash.

When the Gallbladder May Be Responsible

The gallbladder sits beneath the liver in the upper right abdomen and stores bile used during digestion. A gallstone that temporarily blocks a bile duct can cause a gallbladder attack, also called biliary colic. The pain is usually steady rather than a brief cramp and may last from one to several hours.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, gallstones can cause sudden upper right abdominal pain when they block the bile ducts. Gallbladder inflammation, known as cholecystitis, may cause more persistent pain accompanied by fever, tenderness, nausea, or vomiting.

Eating does not cause every gallbladder problem, but attacks frequently occur after large or high-fat meals because eating signals the gallbladder to contract. An imaging report may also describe the organ as contracted. This can be a normal response after eating or may require further interpretation depending on symptoms and testing. Learn more about what a contracted gallbladder may mean.

Liver, Kidney, and Other Possible Sources

The liver occupies much of the upper right abdomen, but liver disease does not always cause pain. When discomfort occurs, it may feel like a dull ache, pressure, or fullness beneath the ribs. Viral hepatitis, liver inflammation, an enlarged liver, an abscess, or advanced scarring can sometimes cause discomfort. Yellow skin or eyes, easy bruising, swelling, pale stools, or dark urine are important accompanying symptoms. MedlinePlus provides an overview of liver diseases and their possible symptoms.

The right kidney is located farther back, so kidney pain is often felt in the flank or back rather than directly in the front of the abdomen. Kidney stones may produce severe pain that comes in waves and travels toward the lower abdomen or groin. A kidney infection can cause side or back pain with fever, chills, nausea, and frequent or painful urination. The NIDDK advises prompt care for possible kidney infection symptoms because the infection can become serious.

Pain under the right ribs can also originate outside the abdomen. Pneumonia or irritation around the lung may hurt more during coughing or deep breathing. A strained abdominal or chest-wall muscle is more likely if the pain began after exercise, lifting, prolonged coughing, or a minor injury and can be reproduced with movement or pressure.

What the Pain Pattern Can Reveal

The location alone cannot establish a diagnosis, but these details can help a healthcare professional narrow the possibilities:

Timing: Note whether the pain appeared suddenly or gradually and whether it is constant or comes in waves.
Relationship to food: Pain after meals can occur with gallbladder, stomach, or upper intestinal conditions.
Movement: Pain that changes with twisting, lifting, coughing, or pressing the area may involve muscles or ribs.
Breathing: Pain that becomes sharper with a deep breath may originate from the chest, lung lining, or upper abdomen.
Radiation: Gallbladder pain may spread to the right shoulder or back, while kidney stone pain may travel toward the groin.
Associated symptoms: Fever, vomiting, jaundice, urinary changes, breathing difficulty, bleeding, or a new rash provide important clues.

How Upper Right Abdominal Pain Is Evaluated

A clinician will ask when the pain began, what it feels like, what makes it better or worse, and whether it is associated with meals, movement, urination, or breathing. The examination may include checking for localized tenderness, abdominal rigidity, fever, dehydration, jaundice, and abnormal breathing sounds.

Testing depends on the suspected cause and may include:

Blood tests for infection, inflammation, anemia, and liver or pancreatic abnormalities
Urine testing for infection, blood, or signs of a kidney stone
Pregnancy testing when relevant
An abdominal ultrasound to examine the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, and sometimes the right kidney
CT, MRI, a gallbladder function scan, chest imaging, or endoscopy when symptoms and initial findings indicate a need

Ultrasound is commonly used when gallstones or gallbladder inflammation are suspected. However, no single test is appropriate for every person, and normal initial results do not explain every possible source of pain.

When to Seek Care

Seek emergency medical care for sudden or severe abdominal pain, a hard or extremely tender abdomen, fainting, confusion, difficulty breathing, chest pressure, vomiting blood, black or bloody stool, or pain following a significant injury. Pregnancy or possible pregnancy with significant abdominal pain also requires prompt assessment.

Seek urgent same-day evaluation if upper right abdominal pain:

Lasts several hours, repeatedly returns, or is getting worse
Occurs with fever, chills, persistent vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down
Is accompanied by yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or unusually pale stool
Occurs with painful urination, blood in the urine, or severe side or back pain
Appears with a painful one-sided rash or blisters
Is associated with unexplained weight loss, abdominal swelling, or loss of appetite

For mild pain that resolves quickly and has no warning signs, record when it occurred, what you ate, and any other symptoms. Contact a primary care clinician or gastroenterologist if the discomfort persists or returns. General abdominal pain warning signs can also help explain why pain intensity alone does not reliably indicate how serious the cause may be.

This article provides general health education and is not a substitute for diagnosis or individualized medical care.