10 Known Causes of Pain Under Right Rib Cage

2. Liver Cancer

Liver cancer can cause pain under your right rib cage because your liver sits in the upper right part of your abdomen. As a tumor grows, it can stretch the thin layer covering the liver, which leads to a dull ache or a feeling of pressure on your right side.

In the early stages, you may not notice clear symptoms. As the cancer grows, you may feel discomfort in the upper right abdomen, swelling in your belly, or a hard lump under your ribs. Some people also feel pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back.

Risk factors include long-term hepatitis B or C infection, heavy alcohol use, smoking, obesity, diabetes, cirrhosis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. If you have ongoing pain under your right rib cage along with these symptoms, your doctor may order blood tests and imaging studies to check your liver.

3. Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy condition that causes high blood pressure and signs of organ stress, often after the 20th week or shortly after birth. This condition affects the liver and kidneys and can lead to pain under your right rib cage.

You may feel pain in the upper right side of your belly, just below your ribs, because the liver becomes swollen or irritated. Some people mistake it for heartburn or gallbladder pain. Some women feel fine, and a provider first finds the problem during a blood pressure check or urine test. Blood tests may show liver strain or low platelets.

Preeclampsia can become serious if you do not treat it. In severe cases, it may lead to seizures, breathing problems from fluid in the lungs, or poor growth of your baby. Treatment may include blood pressure-lowering medication, seizure-preventing medication, or planned delivery if the condition worsens.

4. Gallstones

Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside your gallbladder, which sits under your liver on the right side of your upper belly. When a stone blocks a small tube that drains bile, you can feel pain under your right rib cage.

You may notice a steady or cramping pain in the upper right part of your abdomen. The pain often lasts at least 30 minutes and can spread to your back or right shoulder. It may start after you eat a fatty meal, and nausea or vomiting can also occur.

Many people have gallstones and do not know it. Problems begin when a stone blocks the flow of bile. This blockage can also cause fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or pale stools if the bile cannot drain properly. Risk factors include being over 40, female, overweight, pregnant, losing weight quickly, diabetes, or certain blood disorders.

5. Gastritis

Gastritis happens when the lining of your stomach becomes inflamed, which can cause pain in your upper belly, including under your right rib cage. The pain may feel like a burning or aching sensation. Common triggers include regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heavy alcohol use, infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, and severe stress from illness or surgery.

You may also notice nausea, vomiting, bloating, or a loss of appetite. Some people feel full quickly when they eat. In more serious cases, you might see black stools or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, which can signal bleeding in the stomach.

Your stomach normally protects itself from acid. When this protective layer weakens, acid can irritate the tissue and cause pain, which may spread across your upper abdomen and sometimes feels worse after eating.

Treatment depends on the cause. Your doctor may suggest acid-reducing medicines such as antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, or other acid blockers. If bacteria cause the problem, you may need antibiotics along with an acid blocker.

6. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of your pancreas, a gland that sits behind your stomach and near your right rib cage. When it becomes inflamed, you may feel pain in the upper abdomen that can spread to the right side or move into your back. The pain often starts suddenly and feels deep and steady. It may get worse after you eat, especially high fat meals. Some people also have nausea, vomiting, fever, or a swollen belly.

Pancreatitis has two main types. Acute pancreatitis begins quickly and may improve within days with proper care, while chronic pancreatitis develops over time and can cause lasting damage. Common causes include gallstones and heavy alcohol use.

Gallstones can block a small tube that drains the pancreas, which leads to swelling and pain. Long-term alcohol use can irritate and scar the gland. Other causes include high fat levels in your blood, certain infections, injury, or problems with your immune system.

7. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can cause pain under your right rib cage. The pain often feels sharp and gets worse when you take a deep breath or cough because the infection irritates the lining around your lungs. You may also notice a cough with or without mucus, fever and chills, shortness of breath, fast breathing, and feeling very tired.

If the infection affects the lower part of your right lung, the pain can spread to the area under your ribs. Some people mistake this pain for a muscle strain or a gallbladder problem. The pain may feel worse when you lie on one side or press on the area.

Bacteria, viruses, and sometimes fungi can cause pneumonia. Your risk is higher if you are older, smoke, or have a weak immune system. Young children and older adults may get sick more easily.

8. Shingles

Shingles can cause sharp or burning pain under your right rib cage if they affect the nerves in that area. The same virus that caused chickenpox becomes active again in your body. The pain often starts a few days before you see any rash.

You may first notice tingling, itching, or sensitivity on one side of your chest or back. The pain can feel deep, stabbing, or aching. Because it follows a nerve path, it usually stays on one side of your body and does not cross the midline.

A rash often appears after the pain begins. It forms small fluid-filled blisters that cluster in a band-like pattern. These blisters usually dry and crust over within 1 to 2 weeks. Shingles can affect anyone who has had chickenpox, but your risk increases as you get older or if your immune system is weak. In some cases, you may have nerve pain without a clear rash, which can make the cause harder to spot.

9. Hepatitis

Hepatitis means your liver is inflamed. Your liver sits under your right rib cage, so swelling there can cause pain or a dull ache on that side. The pain may feel worse when you press on the area or take a deep breath.

You can develop hepatitis from viral infections, heavy alcohol use, certain toxins, or an overdose of common pain relievers. Some people also get it when their immune system attacks the liver by mistake. In some cases, inherited conditions that cause metal buildup in the body can damage your liver.

Along with right upper belly pain, you may notice other symptoms. These can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite. Your skin or the whites of your eyes may turn yellow, and your urine may look dark while your stools look pale.

Some types, like hepatitis A, often improve on their own. Others, such as hepatitis B or C, can become long-term and lead to lasting liver damage. Long-term infection may raise your risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

10. Costochondritis

Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone and can cause pain near the center of your chest or under your right rib cage. The pain often worsens with upper body movement, deep breaths, coughing, or pressing on the sore spot. Although the pain feels alarming, it affects your chest wall, not your heart or lungs.

Costochondritis can start after a chest injury, heavy lifting, or repeated upper body movement. Frequent coughing can also strain the rib joints and lead to irritation. In some cases, doctors cannot find a clear cause. Your doctor usually diagnoses this condition through a physical exam.

When they press on the rib joints and it triggers the same pain, it points to costochondritis. This condition often improves on its own over weeks or months. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, and avoiding movements that worsen your pain. In severe cases, a doctor may suggest a corticosteroid injection to reduce swelling.