Liver pain and liver disease. Liver pain can be dull and nonspecific, but it can also be severe. It may result in a backache. Liver pain is sometimes confused with a pain in the right shoulder, or in the abdomen, or the kidney.
So what does liver pain feel like? It manifests in different ways, but a common form is a dull throbbing. For some people, it occurs as a sharp, stabbing pain. Sometimes the pain migrates to other nearby areas, such as the right shoulder blade and the back.
Even though it's the largest organ inside your body, it can be hard to pinpoint the pain from your liver. It's easy to confuse it with pain from your stomach, just to its left. Depending on the cause, a liver that hurts may show up as pain in the front center of your belly, in your back, or even your shoulders.
Liver-related pain may be caused by an abscess, inflammation (hepatitis), liver scarring (cirrhosis), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or a failing or enlarged liver. Symptoms you may experience include: Fatigue. Pain in your back or upper right abdomen.
Yes, there is a link between fatty liver disease and back pain. Fatty liver disease can cause inflammation of the liver which can lead to back pain due to pressure on nerves in the area.
However, as your liver loses its ability to function properly, you're likely to experience a loss of appetite, nausea and itchy skin. In the later stages, symptoms can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark, tarry-looking stools, and a build-up of fluid in the legs (oedema) and abdomen (ascites).
feeling very tired and weak all the time. loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss. loss of sex drive (libido) yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
As liver failure progresses, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms: Jaundice, or yellow eyes and skin. Confusion or other mental difficulties. Swelling in the belly, arms or legs.
Kidney pain is felt in your sides, back, belly or groin. It's often mistaken for back pain. Kidney pain can be caused by kidney stones, kidney infection, an injury or kidney cancer.
You likely won't notice an enlarged liver on your own. In some severe cases, you might notice a feeling of bloating or fullness in your belly, or an ache in your upper right abdomen, where your liver is. It's more likely your healthcare provider will discover it during an exam.
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.
The pain may be throbbing or stabbing, and it can come and go. If you experience this type of pain regularly, or if the intensity of it prevents you from functioning normally, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Feeling sluggish, tired and fatigued constantly. White or yellow-coated tongue and/or bad breath. Weight gain – especially around the abdomen. Cravings and/or blood sugar issues.
Blood tests
But liver function tests can be normal at many stages of liver disease. Blood tests can also detect if you have low levels of certain substances, such as a protein called serum albumin, which is made by the liver. A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly.
Symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
a dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs) extreme tiredness. unexplained weight loss. weakness.
According to the American Liver Foundation, there are no medical treatments – yet – for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. So that means that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are the best ways to both prevent liver damage from starting or reverse liver disease once it's in the early stages.
The lowdown
Liver disease can have many negative effects on bodily functions, including bowel movements. The best way to assist your bowel movements is to focus on lifestyle changes that improve liver function. These include exercise, weight loss, and minimizing alcohol consumption, among others.
Myth 3: Drinking hard liquor is worse than drinking beer or wine. Contrary to popular belief, the type of alcohol you drink doesn't make a difference – what matters is how much you drink. "The safe limit is fixed at 14 units a week," explains Dr Lui. "Below this limit, alcoholic fatty liver is less likely to occur.
The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself. Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die. The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.
If you stop drinking alcohol for some time (months or years), your liver should return to normal.