Question
I'm in extremely severe pain, and I don't know what it could be. I have a sharp stabbing pain on my right side above my hip bone, and it's the worst pain I've ever felt. It hurt last night, but it's so much worse today. Its so severe that its cause me to vomit and get dizzy. I've tried taking pain relievers but nothing seems to be working. Could this be a pulled muscle or something?

Answer
Kay,

Sorry to hear of your situation; your pain sounds pretty intense.

Sometimes, such pain is of strictly muscular origin, not a "pulled" muscle, but muscle in spasm.  The location you describe sounds like that, but the intensity makes me wonder if you are experiencing something deeper -- an organ pain.

I would get that checked out.  

If it's not organ pain, and it is muscular, you can alleviate it by training yourself to relax the involved muscle(s) (a different course of action that stretching or massaging, which don't produce lasting changes in muscle function).  Such a self-training process can be done quickly, in a space of a few sessions of less than an hour, each.

You may read my brief articles on pain management at somatics.com/page4b.htm for more information and resources for help.

If you would like a more in-depth consultation or advice, please let me know.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold