What could be the cause of pain in the right side of the back?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Back pain has many possible causes, ranging from problems with muscles, bones, or the skin covering the back, to conditions affecting nearby organs such as the lungs, kidneys, or gallbladder. Because the source can vary so widely, identifying the underlying cause is essential for finding the right treatment and relief.

Since back pain can stem from anything from a simple muscle strain to a more serious organ-related issue, guessing isn't safe—or effective. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you quickly narrow down likely causes based on your specific symptoms, giving you clarity on what may be going on and guidance on the best next steps to take.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what’s causing right-side back pain Discover if your back pain needs care Find out if it could be serious See OTC options for back pain relief Find a doctor for back pain Understand home remedies for back pain Check likely causes of your right-side pain

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Explanation

Back pain can be caused by issues with the muscles or bones involving the back, or by problems in other parts of the body nearby.

Muscle and bone problems

You may overuse or injure your muscles and bones through exercise or strenuous work. Common issues may arise such as a paraspinous muscle sprain or arthritis in the joints of the spine.

Problems with organs near the back

Organs near the back include the lungs, kidneys, and gallbladder. These organs can sometimes be the cause of pain because lung infection, kidney stones or gallbladder stones may feel like back pain.

Skin problems on the back

Shingles, a viral infection causing chickenpox, can cause severe pain accompanied by blisters on the back. Since you cannot directly see your back, be cautious of any burning or sharp pain near the surface of the skin as this may be an early bought of shingles.

If you're experiencing back pain and want to better understand what might be causing it, try our free AI symptom checker to get personalized insights based on your specific symptoms.

(References)

Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):78-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9. Epub 2021 Jun 8. PMID: 34115979.
Urits I, Burshtein A, Sharma M, Testa L, Gold PA, Orhurhu V, Viswanath O, Jones MR, Sidransky MA, Spektor B, Kaye AD. Low Back Pain, a Comprehensive Review: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019 Mar 11;23(3):23. doi: 10.1007/s11916-019-0757-1. PMID: 30854609.
Casiano VE, Sarwan G, Dydyk AM, et al. Back Pain. [Updated 2023 Dec 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

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