This Pain Map Could Help Reveal Exactly Why Your Stomach is Hurting

Gallstones (Upper Right and Upper Middle Abdomen)

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located just above the liver in the upper right corner of your abdomen. Although small, the gallbladder plays an important role in digestion, producing bile that travels through bile ducts to the intestines to help break down fat in food. Sometimes this bile can build up and harden, forming pebble-like gallstones, which can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Most gallstones are harmless, but if they grow large or travel to other organs, they can cause inflammation (swelling) and severe pain.

Small gallstones can be dissolved with medication and pass naturally out of the body. Gallstones that are causing severe pain or are stuck in the bile ducts can be removed in a quick, minimally invasive surgery. If gallstones are causing serious complications or are challenging to reach, the gallbladder may need to be removed entirely. However, like the tonsils and the appendix, it’s possible to live a completely normal life without a gallbladder.