Abdomen Discomfort from Liver Pains

Not everyone who’s suffering from liver pain experiences exactly the same kind of discomfort. Some feel extreme discomfort – they describe it by saying it feels like their liver is about to explode. Others say they only feel discomfort when they cough or inhale. Patients with pain near the liver sometimes mention a swollen or bloated feeling in the abdominal area.

Pain in the liver area can result from a problem involving the liver itself, but pain near the liver can also be connected to a problem with another part of the body, particularly the gallbladder, blood vessels, or the biliary tract. If the pain is coming from the liver itself, it’s often due to some variety of inflammation.

Cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure and hepatitis are several of the most serious threats to your liver. There are, in fact, many different types of liver conditions that can cause liver pain.

If the pain comes from somewhere besides the liver, it may be due to an obstruction of the biliary tract, like a stone. Doctors call this type of pain biliary colic. It typically comes on fast, causes a few hours of discomfort, then fades. Pain from this disorder begins in your upper middle or upper right quadrant. It may radiate to your shoulder, or to the region between the shoulder blades in your upper back.

Biliary colic usually happens because you’ve eaten a large, cholesterol-rich meal and your digestive system is having trouble processing all the fat. Other causes of pain near the liver include a liver abscess and cholangitis or inflammation of the biliary duct. Sometimes, liver cysts can also cause pain near the liver. Poor gallbladder health can also cause what feels like pain near the liver.

Several medications are available that will help relieve pain near the liver. They include:

* Drugs known as NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs require a doctor’s prescription, but you can get other forms over the counter.

* Meperidine (better known as Demerol)

* Morphine

Liver pain shouldn’t be ignored. Anytime you have soreness or tenderness near the bottom of your ribcage, it would be wise to contact your doctor. Such discomfort could be the result of liver of gallbladder problems. These can be serious threats to your long term health and deserve the attention of a medical professional.

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