Most people with liver disease report abdominal pain. 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.
Liver pain is often associated with liver disease or inflammation and may get worse with alcohol consumption or by taking certain medications.
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.
Chronic liver inflammation leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis, which is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. Hepatocyte steatosis is a component of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
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. Symptoms include of alcoholic hepatitis include: Loss of appetite.
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.
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. Those with cirrhosis are also more susceptible to developing liver cancer.
You may feel pain and tenderness in the upper right part of your belly. You may also feel pain under your right ribs, in the right side of your chest, or in your right shoulder. In some cases, you may have bruised skin over the injured area.
When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus.
Causes of liver inflammation include the following: alcohol use disorder, including fatty liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited condition that predisposes you to liver and lung damage. autoimmune disorders.
A blood test can show elevated liver enzymes. The blood test checks for raised levels of AST and ALT, which are enzymes that the liver releases when it becomes inflamed or damaged. If a doctor finds that a person has raised AST or ALT levels, they are likely to carry out further tests to determine the underlying cause.
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.
Can an enlarged liver be reversed or cured? Sometimes. Your liver has a remarkable ability to repair and regenerate itself, provided it has enough healthy tissue left to work with. If your enlarged liver is the result of an acute condition, treating the condition will allow your liver to heal.
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. Your liver doesn't actually have any pain receptors. Usually, the pain happens because the membrane that surrounds it is inflamed from an illness or injury.
You probably won't know you have it unless it's diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason. Occasionally, people with NASH or fibrosis (more advanced stages of the disease) may experience: a dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs)
Stay Away From Fatty Foods
Eat too many foods that are high in saturated fat and it can make it harder for your liver to do its job. Over time it may lead to inflammation, which in turn could cause scarring of the liver that's known as cirrhosis.
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.
Water is the best way to recharge the liver. In addition to causing several physical symptoms, dehydration can greatly affect liver function, especially the ability to detoxify blood.
Eat a balanced diet: Select foods from all food groups: Grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and beans, milk, and oil. Eat food with fiber: Fiber helps your liver work at an optimal level. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, rice and cereals can take care of your body's fiber needs.
A CT scan of the liver and biliary tract may be performed to assess the liver and/or gallbladder and their related structures for tumors and other lesions, injuries, bleeding, infections, abscesses, unexplained abdominal pain, obstructions, or other conditions, particularly when another type of examination, such as X- ...
There are at-home liver panel tests that can determine liver function by screening for proteins and enzymes like albumin, globulin, ALP, ALT, and GGT. These tests use a finger-prick sample and include materials to collect and send your specimen to the lab. You can order a liver panel from home and get tested in a lab.
Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly). Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss. Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). Swollen abdomen and legs (edema).