Lower Right Abdominal Pain After Eating

Abdominal pain can be caused by a number of factors, both benign and serious. Identifying the causes of lower right abdomen pain will ensure you receive appropriate and timely treatment. Some very serious conditions can contribute to lower right abdominal pain, but don't get too worried right away; visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Causes

Stomach pain after eating is common. Aerophagia, or air swallowing, is common when a person eats food rapidly. Air can get trapped in the intestines, sometimes causing pain. However, aerophagia pain may not always recur in the same spot. If your lower right abdominal pain is recurrent, precisely located and frequent, then it could be caused by appendicitis or Crohn's disease, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 234.

Symptoms

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To identify the source of your pain, it's important to recognize any adjacent symptoms. Aerophagia usually causes temporary post-eating pain, often relieved with burping or passing gas. Appendicitis pain may flare up after eating, with diarrhea, constipation, fever, chills and nausea as additional common symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 13. Crohn's disease is also associated with lower right abdominal pain, and eating food can aggravate the symptoms. Rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever commonly accompany Crohn's disease.

Treatment

Eat slower to treat simple aerophagia. Also eat fewer fatty foods, as these can contribute to gas build-up. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication can help to control appendicitis. However, an inflamed appendix is usually removed surgically. An untreated inflamed appendix can be very dangerous, so make sure to see your doctor if you suspect this condition is causing your pain. Crohn's disease is manageable with nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatory medication and surgery, according to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center 24.

Prevention

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Eat healthier foods, including those rich in fiber. Fiber promotes digestive health and reduces abdominal pain. Appendicitis is caused when the appendix is blocked by feces or another foreign object, and a healthy digestive system can reduce your risk of fecal complications. Crohn's disease is believed to be caused by a bacterial infection, and a healthy diet will help you ward off illness-causing bacteria.

Considerations

Appendicitis and Crohn's disease are both common causes of recurring lower right abdominal pain after eating. However, remember that these conditions are both manageable with treatment. If you are experiencing lower right abdominal pain, it's best to avoid overreacting to the problem, and instead to talk to your doctor right away about a responsible, safe treatment regimen. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away, but neither will stressing out about medications or minor surgery.