Inflammation and pain in the joints, or arthritis, can be caused by many things. The CDC estimates about 23% of all adults have been diagnosed with some form of it. In fact, 12% of people in the USA suffer with arthritis chronically. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over a hundred different forms of arthritis and related diseases. Psoriasis, bacterial infections (e.g., gonorrhea), viral infections (e.g., hepatitis B, Chikungunya), lupus, scleroderma, Lyme disease, bursitis, fibromyalgia, and gout can all cause arthritis, making diagnosis challenging.
Arthritis has a severe economic impact due to lost employment days and lost wages and a psychological impact due to its negative influence on quality of life. Untreated, it can only get worse, resulting in permanent joint damage and a lifelong ordeal of suffering.
What are the most common forms of arthritis?
The top two types of arthritis, comprising 90% of all arthritis diagnoses, are osteoarthritis, which ...
The Right Upper Quadrant
The following are the four quadrants of the abdomen:
LUQ (left upper quadrant)
LLQ (left lower quadrant)
RLQ (right lower quadrant)
RUQ (right upper quadrant)
The right upper quadrant (RUQ) contains the following:
Diaphragm
Portion of the pancreas (“head”)
Liver
Gall bladder
Right ureter and kidney (unique to the RUQ)
Large intestines
Small intestines
Diaphragm
The diaphragm is the oblong muscle that divides the abdomen below from the chest above. When it pulls down, it sets up a negative pressure in the lungs above, which are forced to expand and draw in air. Problems with the diaphragm are discussed below:
Diaphragmatic (hiatal) hernia: This can cause symptoms in the RUQ, but this condition is more aptly addressed in Part I: The Left Upper Quadrant.
Diaphragm muscle strain: This can occur with sneezing or shouting. Depending on the side—left or right—referred pain to the left or ri ...
