side? many people would think appendicitis; right? as a surgeon, when you go to the e.r. to see a doctor, you want to divide the abdomen into four quadrants, right side and left side. usually the right lower quadrant that is usually appendicitis. in women it could be an ovarian mass. upper quadrant usually gallstones. left side is all bowel, inflammation of the bowels. the left upper part is pancreas. every one of them has a different meaning. severe sharp pain that doesn t go away, you ve got to go to the emergency room. it s not some irritable bowel disease or gas. see your doctor. very important. actually when you see them early, you can prevent any kind of perforation and getting infection in the abdomen. very important. gretchen: that was very helpful, the quadrants. the back pain with tingling toes? the key word right there