There are numerous causes of right flank pain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, flank pain is pain on the body's side, between the upper abdomen and the back. Flank pain can occur on either side of the body, depending on the cause and location of the pain-generating structures. One of the most common causes of flank pain are kidney problems, although other structures, such as the pancreas, can also cause flank pain.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can cause right flank pain. According to the Mayo Clinic website, pancreatitis is the medical term for inflammation within the pancreas--a long, thin organ and gland that's located behind the stomach in a person's upper abdomen. The pancreas has several important functions, including producing enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that control glucose or sugar processing. There are two principle kinds of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis arises without warning and may last for days. Chronic pancreatitis causes pain and discomfort over a period of many years. Common signs and symptoms associated with acute pancreatitis include the following: pain in the upper abdomen, pain that radiates to the flank and back, pain that's worse after eating, nausea, vomiting and abdominal tenderness. A person with chronic pancreatitis may experience similar symptoms, in addition to experiencing unexplained weight loss, indigestion and oily stools.
Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis can cause right flank pain. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK--a division of the National Institutes of Health--states that pyelonephritis, also called a kidney infection, is often caused by bacteria from the bladder that have spread up the urinary tract. According to the NIDDK, common signs and symptoms associated with a kidney infection include the following: back, flank and groin pain, a persistent urge to urinate, pain or burning when urinating, fever, bloody urine, pus in the urine and nausea and vomiting. If left untreated, pyelonephritis can lead to serious health complications, such as permanent kidney damage, chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure and, in some case, a life-threatening condition called sepsis. Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by inflammation throughout the body. Sepsis is usually caused by infections that spread to the bloodstream.
Renal Vein Thrombosis
Renal vein thrombosis can cause right flank pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, renal vein thrombosis is a blood clot that manifests in the vein that drains blood from the kidney back to the heart. The NIH states that renal vein thrombosis is a relatively rare condition. One of the most common causes of renal vein thrombosis is trauma to the abdomen or back. Renal vein thrombosis can also be caused by scar formation, tumors or strictures. Strictures are an abnormal narrowing of a bodily passage, such as the renal vein. Common signs and symptoms associated with renal vein thrombosis include the following: blood in the urine, reduced urine outflow, back pain and flank pain. According to the NIH, with proper treatment, renal vein thrombosis usually improves over time and does not cause irreversible kidney damage.
