Numerous conditions can cause lower right intestinal pain. According to the Merck Manuals website, abdominal pain can be caused by many different structures within the abdomen, including the intestines. The large intestine is part of the digestive system. It is responsible for absorbing water from indigestible food matter and passing waste material from the body. In some people, problems arise in the lower right portion of the large intestine that can cause abdominal pain.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause pain in the right lower intestine. According to the Family Doctor website, inflammatory bowel disease is a term that encompasses several disorders that cause the intestines to become red and swollen or inflamed. The intestinal inflammation is long-lasting, and it's characterized by pain or discomfort that disappears, only to reappear again later. Over 600,000 Americans suffer from some type of inflammatory bowel disease each year as of 2009, states the Family Doctor website. Although the precise cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unknown, it may be caused by a germ or immune system problem. Inflammatory bowel disease is not contagious. Common signs and symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal pain in the affected area, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
Intestinal Obstruction
Intestinal obstruction can cause pain in the lower right intestine. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that intestinal obstruction, also known as intestinal volvulus or paralytic ileus, is a partial or total blockage of the bowel that prevents intestinal contents from passing through the digestive system. Possible causes of intestinal obstruction include a physical blockage of the intestine by an object, such as impacted feces, a tumor or ileus--a condition in which no structural problem exists, but the intestines do not function properly. Common signs and symptoms associated with intestinal obstruction include crampy, intermittent abdominal pain in the affected area, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, an inability to produce flatulence and abdominal swelling. Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal or pelvic surgery and Crohn's disease.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer can cause pain in the lower right intestine. According to the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA)--the largest colorectal cancer non-profit organization in the United States--colon cancer, when detected early, is highly treatable. The CCA states that even if colon cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes, surgery and chemotherapy are usually successful in curing the condition. Most colon cancer occurs in people over the age of 50. A person's risk for colon cancer increases with age. Common signs and symptoms associated with colon cancer include persistent abdominal pain or discomfort, changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, weakness, fatigue and rapid, unexplained weight loss. According to the CCA, colon cancer affects both men and women of all ethnic backgrounds, and it's the third most common type of cancer.
