Lower Right or Lower Left Belly Pain: Appendicitis, Kidney Stones, and When It's the ER
Where belly pain sits can hint at the cause. Here's what lower right and lower left abdominal pain often mean, and the signs that mean you go to the ER.
Most belly pain comes from gas, constipation, a stomach bug or indigestion, and it gets better on its own. Where the pain sits can hint at other causes: lower right pain can be appendicitis, lower left pain in adults is often diverticulitis or constipation, and pain on either side that starts in the back and moves to the groin can be a kidney stone. Severe pain, pain that keeps getting worse, or pain with fever, vomiting or a rigid belly needs the ER.
Lower right abdominal pain
- Appendicitis: often starts as dull pain around the belly button that moves to the lower right over several hours and becomes sharp. Worse with walking, coughing or bumps in the car, often with nausea, loss of appetite and a low fever. This is an ER problem, because an appendix can burst.
- Gas or constipation
- Ovarian cyst or twisted ovary
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Kidney stone or kidney infection
- Hernia: a bulge in the groin that may hurt when lifting
Lower left abdominal pain
- Constipation and gas: very common, crampy pain that comes and goes
- Diverticulitis: inflamed pouches in the colon, more common over 40, causing steady pain with fever, nausea or a change in bowel habits
- Ovarian cyst, twisted ovary or ectopic pregnancy
- Kidney stone or kidney infection
- Hernia
Kidney stone symptoms
- Severe, sharp pain in the side or back, below the ribs, that comes in waves
- Pain that spreads to the lower belly and groin
- Pain or burning when peeing, peeing often, or pink, red or brown urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Restlessness: it's hard to find a position that helps
Small stones often pass on their own with fluids and pain medicine. A kidney stone with fever or chills is an emergency.
Pain in both lower sides, or the middle
Pain low in the middle can come from the bladder, such as a UTI, or from the uterus, such as period cramps. Our UTI post covers that. Pelvic pain with fever or unusual discharge can be pelvic inflammatory disease.
What urgent care can do
For mild to moderate belly pain, a clinician can examine you, test your urine for infection, blood or pregnancy, and treat causes such as constipation, a UTI or a stomach bug. If anything suggests appendicitis, a twisted ovary, an ectopic pregnancy or another surgical problem, you'll be sent to the ER, which has the CT scanners and surgeons. Our stomach bug and food poisoning posts cover the common causes.
At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See our abdominal pain page and the cost and insurance page.
Go to the ER or call 911 if belly pain is severe or getting steadily worse, comes on suddenly and sharply, moves to the lower right and hurts more when you move, comes with a fever and vomiting, or your belly is hard and very tender to touch; if you're vomiting blood or have black or bloody stools; if you could be pregnant and have belly pain or bleeding; or if you have a kidney stone with fever or chills.
Where to find us
Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:
- Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
Walk in, or book online.
Medically reviewed by Peter Martinuzzi, MD
This article is general health information, not medical advice for your situation. If you are worried, come in or book a telehealth visit — and if it is an emergency, call 911.