I Feel Pains In My Liver - Should I be Concerned?
The feeling of liver pain comes to different people in different ways. Some say it is so distressing that it feels as if their liver is going to burst. Other patients describe a dull ache and tenderness in the vicinity of the lower rib cage. These people who have pain in the area of the liver say they feel somewhat swollen or bloated.
Pain in the liver area can come from the liver itself, but it can also be triggered by a problem with another part of the body, particularly the gallbladder, blood vessels, or the biliary tract. When the pain is being caused by the liver itself, it usually means the liver has become inflamed due to a variety of possible causes.
Cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure and hepatitis are several of the best known threats to your liver. There are, in fact, many different kinds of liver conditions that can trigger liver pain.
But once again, pain in the area of the liver can also be the result of a problem with some other part of the body or the digestive system, like an obstruction in the biliary tract or a stone. Doctors refer to this type of problem as biliary colic. It usually comes on suddenly, causes several hours of discomfort, then subsides. This type of pain begins in your upper middle or upper right quadrant. It may extend to your shoulder, or to the region between the shoulder blades in your upper back.
Biliary colic is most likely to happen after you’ve eaten a large fatty meal. A number of other conditions can trigger pain in the area of the liver. These include a liver abscess, liver cysts, and cholangitis or inflammation of the biliary duct. Poor gallbladder health can also cause what feels like pain in the area of the liver.
There are several medications that are generally effective in relieving pain in the area of the liver:
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are also referred to asNSAIDs. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter, while other’s require a doctor’s prescription. They reduce swelling and relieve pain.
* A drug called Meperidine, which is better known as Demerol.
* Morphine
Any time you begin to feel pain, aching or soreness in an area near the bottom of your ribcage, you should probably talk to your doctor. Pain in this region is typical of liver and gallbladder problems, both of which deserve prompt medical attention.
Do you need more information on pain caused by liver disease? Click on liver trouble.
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