Lower Back on the Pain Right Side: Causes and Treatment

Most people experience some pain at some point in their lives. Lower back pain on the right side can have several causes, such as injuries, poor posture or sciatica. There are several ways to find pain relief and the right treatment depends on the cause of your pain.

Acute and Chronic Pain

This pain can be acute or chronic. Chronic pain lasts more than three months. The pain can follow an accident or an injury but it can also start suddenly without an obvious cause. General soreness, tension and stiffness in the back are usually called non-specific back pain. It can often go away on its own in a few days or a week. It can be related to sitting or standing for long periods of time, a poor posture, carrying or lifting heavy items or even stress. More severe causes for the pain include bone fractures, slipped disks, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

Sciatica and Back Pain

A typical cause for pain in the lower back that only affects one side of the back is sciatica. Sciatica refers to the sciatic nerve that runs from the sacral area through the buttocks and down the back of each of your legs. Sciatica often occurs when the nerve is trapped, for example after an injury or if you have lifted a heavy item incorrectly or too fast. Typical symptoms include pain that radiates from the lower back down the back of one leg (it usually affects one leg at a time), a tingling feeling or a feeling of "pins and needles".

Pain Medication

Doctors may recommend over-the-counter medication for back problems. These include pain killers that are also anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, or common painkillers such as paracetamol and aspirin. A doctor can also prescribe medication although some strong pain medicines can be addictive and have unwanted side-effects.

Pain Relief Methods that are Effective

If you visit a doctor because of sciatic pain, your doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist or a chiropractor for pain relief. Chiropractic adjustments can help to release the tension around the trapped nerve. A physiotherapist may use cold and heat treatment, massage or other treatments to relieve sciatic pain. A physiotherapist can also create a home care program that includes stretches and exercises to relieve lower back pain on the right side. Surgery is usually the last option for reliving back pain and it is only used when nothing else helps.