Liver pain can be felt in the upper part of the abdomen, on the right hand side but also in the back and the right shoulder. It can be dull and non specific, but it may also be severe. It can be a sign of liver disease. A healthy liver helps the body fight infections, cleans the blood, and plays a role in metabolism.
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.
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
Gallbladder and liver pain can feel similar. Both organs are in the upper-right quadrant of the abdomen. However, some key differences can help differentiate between the two conditions. Gallbladder pain typically occurs in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and may radiate to the right shoulder or back.
Abdominal pain. Fatigue. Nausea and vomiting. Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Stage 3: Cirrhosis
During this stage of disease, symptoms become more noticeable: pain and discomfort, fatigue, appetite loss, fluid retention, jaundice, and an itchy feeling around the liver.
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.
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. Treatments include avoiding alcohol and avoiding certain foods.
A liver blood test measures the levels of various things in your blood, like proteins, liver enzymes, and bilirubin. This can help check the health of your liver and for signs of inflammation or damage.
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).
The edge of the liver is normally thin and firm. It cannot be felt with the fingertips below the edge of the ribs, except when you take a deep breath. It may be enlarged if a health care provider can feel it in this area.
You can develop an inflamed liver because of excessive consumption of alcohol. The liver can also become swollen from processing too many other toxins, such as excess amounts of acetaminophen or other supplements and medications. Cirrhosis is the formation of scar tissue on the liver because of alcoholism or hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that lasts one to two weeks.It is believed to lead to alcoholic cirrhosis over a period of years.
Fatty fish
Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are the good fats that help reduce inflammation. These fats may be especially helpful in the liver, as they appear to prevent the buildup of excess fats and maintain enzyme levels in the liver.
Acute liver failure causes fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, discomfort on your right side, just below your ribs, and diarrhea. Acute liver failure is a serious condition. It requires medical care right away. If treatments are not effective, you may be a candidate for a liver transplant.
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.
A sharp and sudden pain may appear in the front of your belly or on your side. Or, you might feel a dull and gradual pain that comes on just under the ribs. Some people even experience liver pain that is so great they can feel it on their shoulders.
When enlarged liver results from liver disease, it might be accompanied by: Abdominal pain. Fatigue. Nausea and vomiting.
Acute liver failure can develop quickly in an otherwise healthy person, and it is life-threatening. If you or someone you know suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior, seek medical attention right away.