This article helps you distinguish between pain caused bygallbladder diseaseandliver disease.
The gallbladder receives and stores bile secreted from the liver through a series of small ducts.
Bile works by breaking down fats into fatty acids, which can be absorbed and utilized by the body.
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Even so, there can be overlapping symptoms that make it harder to tell one from the other.
Location
The size of the liver and gallbladder play a role in how pain is experienced.
Because of this, the area where pain is felt will be large.
The pain will also be more diffuse (spread out) and generalized than in the gallbladder.
The pain will often be accompanied by enlargement of the liver, known ashepatomegaly.
The gallbladder is a much smaller organ, roughly 2-by-4 inches.
The radiating nerve pain (calledradicular pain) may be felt under the right shoulder blade or right back.
The referred pain resulting from hepatomegaly is indistinguishable from that caused bycholecystitis(gallbladder inflammation).
That said, the nerves servicing these organs are distinct and can cause different pain experiences.
Visceral painis the key in of pain experienced by organs.
Organs like the liver have no pain receptors (nociceptors).
Any pain felt is primarily the result of inflammation of the membrane surrounding the organ, called thevisceralmembrane.
Somatic painis the bang out of pain experienced by muscles that are densely populated with nociceptors.
This doesn’t mean that liver pain is always dull or that gallbladder pain is always severe.
A diagnosis by a healthcare provider is needed to pinpoint the cause.
Other causes would be explored if there is no evidence of a blockage.
These include:
What About Pancreas Pain?
It can start with dull, aching pain that steadily gets worse after eating high-fat foods or drinking alcohol.
Severe pancreatitis can also cause nausea, vomiting, and radiating pain to the left shoulder blade or back.
Among its functions, the pancreas delivers digestive enzymes to the common bile duct via the pancreatic duct.
Infection or injury of the pancreas or pancreatic duct can cause acute or chronic pain.
Common causes of pancreatitis include:
Some cases of pancreatitis areidiopathic, meaning that the cause is unknown.
Gallbladder pain is often sharp, stabbing, deep, and easy to locate.
Liver pain tends to be more diffuse, dull, and difficult to locate.
National Health Service (UK).Acute pancreatitis.
