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How Worried Should You Be About Liver Pains?

31st August, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

People who are experiencing pain near the liver frequently describe it in different ways. Some say their pain is so severe that it feels as if their liver is going to burst. Others say they only feel discomfort when they cough or inhale. People with pain in the area of the liver are also likely to complain of swelling or bloating.

Pain in the liver area can result from a problem involving the liver itself, but it can also be connected to a disorder in another part of the body, particularly the gallbladder, blood vessels, or the biliary tract. When the pain is actually being caused by the liver itself, it often means the liver has become inflamed for any number of reasons.

Cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure and hepatitis are just some of the direct threats to your liver. There are, in fact, many different types of liver problems that can cause you to experience liver pain.

But it’s possible your discomfort isn’t coming directly from the liver.. It’s possible there may be a stone obstructing the biliary tract, for instance. Doctors call this type of pain “biliary colic.” It frequently comes on fast, lasts several hours, and then goes away. Biliary colic usually starts in your upper middle quadrant or upper right quadrant. It may then extend to your shoulder or the area of your back between the shoulder blades.

Usually, you get biliary colic because you’ve just eaten a big, fatty meal and your digestive system is struggling to process all the cholesterol you’ve consumed. Among the other reasons for pain in the area of the liver are a liver abscess and cholangitis or inflammation of the biliary duct. Liver cysts may also cause pain in the area of the liver. Poor gallbladder health can also cause what feels like pain in the area of the liver.

Several medications are available that will help relieve pain in the area of the liver. They include:

* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are also calledNSAIDs. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter, while other’s require a doctor’s prescription. They bring down swelling and relieve pain.

* A drug called Meperidine, which is also called Demerol.

* Morphine

Any time you begin to feel pain, aching or soreness in an area around your liver, you should probably talk to your doctor. Such discomfort could be the result of liver of gallbladder problems. These can be serious threats to your long term health and merit a call to your doctor.

Are you searching for additional information on liver pains? Click on The Liver.