In more severe cases, gallbladder pain may cause nausea, vomiting, fever, or jaundice. On the other hand, upper abdominal or liver pain may feel more like a dull ache or pressure in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. It may also be accompanied by fatigue, weakness, or general discomfort.
A group of blood tests called liver function tests can be used to diagnose liver disease. Other blood tests can be done to look for specific liver problems or genetic conditions. Imaging tests. An ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can show liver damage.
Symptoms of an inflamed liver can include: Feelings of fatigue. Jaundice (a condition that causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow) Feeling full quickly after a meal.
Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of your liver. The three most common types are hepatitis A, B, and C. They're caused by different viruses that infect your liver. It can cause pain in the upper right side of your belly, where your liver sits.
Liver failure occurs when your liver isn't working well enough to perform its functions (for example, manufacturing bile and ridding your body of harmful substances). Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, and blood in the stool.
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.
A general unwell feeling. An underperforming liver can't filter toxins out of the bloodstream, resulting in fatigue, headaches and skin problems. Frequent gassy sensation. When a damaged liver doesn't secrete digestive juices to break down food, you may experience routine bloating and stool pressure.
Pain in the Upper Right Abdomen
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.
The first stage of liver disease involves inflammation of the individual's bile duct or liver. Abdominal pain is often the first symptoms of this inflammation as the person's body attempts to fight off the disease or infection.
People with fatty liver disease often have no symptoms until the disease progresses to cirrhosis of the liver. If you do have symptoms, they may include: Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly). Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss.
For other conditions, the most common symptom is jaundice — a yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice develops when your liver can't clear a substance called bilirubin. Other signs of liver disease may include: Abdominal (belly) pain (especially on the right side).
Abdominal ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) can be used to create pictures of your gallbladder and bile ducts. These pictures may show signs of cholecystitis or stones in the bile ducts and gallbladder.
Gallbladder pain feels different than any other kind of pain you've ever felt in your abdomen. You may feel a sudden, sharp pain in your upper right abdomen. It may feel like someone is cutting you with a knife. The pain is constant and severe.
How long does liver pain last? Liver pain is caused by inflammation. If you have alcohol-related liver disease and stop drinking, this pain will likely go away within a few weeks. However, if the damage is severe, then the liver may not be able to heal completely.
Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of cirrhosis. Get emergency medical help right away if you have: Abdominal or chest pain. Abdominal swelling or ascites that is new or suddenly becomes worse.
The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.
So what happens when you stop drinking? The good news is that the liver is the only organ that can restore and regenerate itself. Because the liver is in a constant state of regeneration, in many cases the healing process can begin within just weeks after foregoing alcohol.
Symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Occasionally, people with NASH or fibrosis (more advanced stages of NAFLD) may experience: a dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs) extreme tiredness.
In general, acetaminophen at reduced dosing is a safe option. In patients with cirrhosis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided to avert renal failure, and opiates should be avoided or used sparingly, with low and infrequent dosing, to prevent encephalopathy.
A series of special blood tests can often determine whether or not the liver is inflamed, injured, or functioning properly.