Liver pain is typically felt in the upper right abdomen just below the rib cage.
Some conditions, like viral hepatitis and Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, can cause acute and chronic pain.
Liver pain is often dull and generalized but can be sharp and specific depending on its underlying cause.
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This article describes the symptoms and causes of liver pain, including how it is diagnosed and treated.
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Pain Locator: Where Is My Liver?
Even so, the pain can vary significantly based on the underlying cause.
This is the end stage of liver disease, known as decompensated cirrhosis.
Viral Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of hepatitis.
In the United States, thehepatitis A,hepatitis B, andhepatitis Cviruses are the primary sources of infection.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is liver inflammation brought on by heavy alcohol use.
Alcoholic hepatitis is the point at which ALD becomes symptomatic due to the progression of cirrhosis.
Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease.
It is most commonly associated withobesityanddiabetes, both of which can cause fat to accumulate in the liver.
The buildup of fat, in turn, causes progressive scarring due to persistent, low-levelinflammation.
the stage at which fatty liver disease turns symptomatic due to the onset of cirrhosis.
Portal Hypertension
Portal hypertensionis elevated pressure in theportal veinwhich carries blood from the heart to the liver.
Cirrhosis can cause this by obstructing blood flow to the smaller vessels of the liver.
This, in turn, causes blood to back up into the portal vein.
This causes blood to flow back into the liver, increasing the risk of ascites and portal hypertension.
Symptoms of BCS include upper right abdomen pain accompanied by hepatomegaly.
There may also be upper left abdominal pain sparked by an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).
In around a third of cases, the cause is unknown.
The severity of symptoms is largely based on the location and number of hepatic veins affected.
Liver abscesses are more commonly seen in older adults, people with diabetes, and others withsuppressed immune systems.
This is an urgent medical condition characterized by sharp, stabbing pains in the upper right abdomen.
Liver Cysts
Liver cystsare fluid-filled pockets most often resulting from the malformation of bile ducts.
Liver cysts can occur in isolation or cause multiple cysts to form (known aspolycystic liver disease).
FHCS is characterized by the inflammation of the Glisson’s capsule without involvement of the liver itself.
People with FHCS experience upper right abdominal pain, often with pain that radiates to the right shoulder.
Fever, chills, headache, and malaise are also common.
Most cases of PID are brought on by the bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs)gonorrheaandchlamydia.
Although most cases are acute, some can persist and cause chronic pelvic pain.
Liver Injury
Liver injuries make up approximately 5% of all emergency room admissions.
This can lead to deep, aching pain in the upper right abdomen.
Possible causes of a blocked bile duct include:
Who Is More Likely to Have Liver Pain?
Liver pain is often a sign of an underlying liver disease.
Your provider can help diagnose and treat their underlying causes and prescribe medications that provide symptomatic relief.
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