Symptoms & Causes of Liver Pain

Chronic Disease

What does liver pain feel like? How does liver pain feel? Let’s start with where the liver is located because liver pain is confused with stomachache or pain, just to its left.

Regarding the liver pain location, if you feel pain in the upper abdomen on the right side, this could be a severe sign of liver dysfunction. This pain may also be felt in the back, the right shoulder, the abdomen, or the kidney.

Can You Hear What Your Liver is Saying?  

As one of our body’s largest and hardest-working organs, the LIVER performs more than 500 distinct functions every day. Filtering the blood and detoxing the whole body, nutrient breakdown creating protein and storing vitamins and minerals are only a few liver functions.

It is also considered a gland because, among its many functions, it makes and secretes bile. Our liver works like an experienced conductor, especially when processing the protein, fat and carbohydrates that enter our body with food. But among all these responsibilities, liver is such a resilient organ – not an instant complainer and very easy to ignore. You may have some alarming problems such as liver pain, but completely unaware of them until something goes wrong.

Many of us are walking around with a fatty liver.  Although your liver is cramming with fat, you usually don’t know about it. Occasionally, vague pain under the right rib arch, fatigue, weakness, gas, swelling, etc. Although there are such signs, most people with fatty liver disease do not show symptoms.

Most of the time, liver problem sneaks silently. And this problem can be the starting point of a journey that can lead to cirrhosis or even liver tumor. For this reason, one should not take the matter lightly by saying, ”nothing will happen to me”…

Exploring Liver Pain: Symptoms and Common Causes

Experiencing liver pain can be a perplexing and uncomfortable ordeal. While it may manifest as a dull and nonspecific sensation, it can also intensify into a severe and persistent ache, leaving individuals grappling with its elusive nature. One of the confounding aspects of liver pain is its potential to mimic other pains, leading to misinterpretations and diagnostic challenges. It may be mistaken for discomfort in the right shoulder, abdominal region, or even kidney pain, further complicating identifying the root cause.

Liver disease can be silent for a very long time. As many as half of people who have it don’t have any symptoms like liver pain at all.

Even if you don’t have liver pain, you shouldn’t be so sure that your liver is doing fine.

If you are:

Feeling run down
Easily distracted with brain fog
Experiencing headaches
Having unexplained joint and muscle pain
Having itchy skin, swelling in your belly,  red palms, dark spots, fast bruises
Having dark urine, confusion
Experiencing sudden weight gain or weight loss,
Having yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Keep in mind that an unhealthy liver can cause: 

Weakened immune system
Gallstones, sludge, inflammation
Hormone imbalance + PMS
Poor metabolism
Weight gain
Poor concentration
Low energy
Fatigue
Liver failure

When to Seek Medical Attention

We suggest considering a liver function test in certain situations. For those with a family history of liver issues, being proactive and aware of potential risks can be a life saver. Genetic factors can also contribute to the development of liver disease, but early identification is essential.

Additionally, if you use alcohol or have issues with alcoholism, we recommend regular liver function tests. Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption is one of the main risks of liver damage and various diseases. To assess the impact of alcohol on your body and take proactive steps towards managing or stopping alcohol consumption, monitoring your liver health through testing is important.

Along with these are common indicators, consulting with a medical professional for personal advice based on your condition and medical history can be very helpful. Regular check-ups can help you to maintain a healthy liver.

You May Not Realize Right Away If Something is Wrong With Your Liver

What is This Famous Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty liver disease (steatosis) is a health condition caused by having too much fat build up in your liver. Typically, a healthy liver contains a small amount of fat. If the amount of fat reaches 5% to 10% of your liver’s weight, it becomes a problem.

There are two types of fatty liver disease:

Alcoholic liver disease caused by heavy drinking
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects people who aren’t heavy drinkers

Researchers haven’t found the exact cause of this. Various factors like obesity and diabetes can increase your risk.

Anything Familiar?  

If your answers yes more than a few times, you may need to consider your liver health more seriously. You may experience some signs of liver dysfunction, such as liver pain, hormonal symptoms, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, or gastrointestinal symptoms. But have never connected that the root cause may be the liver.

Thus, instead of trying to fix each one of these symptoms separately, you can support and love your liver and experience true healing.

If not, it is an excellent opportunity to learn how to avoid all these symptoms permanently! You can make your liver’s job easier and yourself healthier if you nourish and rest right.

The good news: The liver has a remarkable capacity to regenerate!

The liver CAN REGENERATE to an entirely new organ if only 25% of the healthy organ remains! Instead of having to fix each one of these symptoms, you can protect your liver health and support liver regeneration with joining TheLifeCo’s liver cleanse program.

Liver pain: Frequently asked questions

What does liver pain feel like?

Pain in the upper abdomen or liver region could be perceived as a mild throbbing sensation or a sense of pressure in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal area. The location liver pain is felt is the most important determiner while naming the problem.

How do I know if my pain is liver related?

Typically, liver pain symptoms are characterized as dull or throbbing, with general abdominal discomfort being a common complaint. However, individuals with cirrhosis might also experience pain in other areas, such as the back, shoulders, and larger joints. The sensation of pain and liver pain location can vary among individuals.

What are 4 warning signs of damaged liver?

The 4 early signs of a damaged liver are:
-Yellowish skin and eyes
-Itchy and swelled skin
-Long lasting fatigue
-Darker urine
-Pain at the location of liver

How do you know if your liver is inflamed?

An inflamed liver causes symptoms that are mostly common illness symptoms. Therefore it is hard to directly know that the problem is about the liver. Feeling tired and weak, losing muscle mass and losing appetite are among the early signs.

What can be mistaken for liver pain?

While gallbladder and liver pain may feel alike, they have distinct characteristics. The question, where do you feel liver pain, can help distinguish them. Both organs can contribute to discomfort when positioned in the upper-right quadrant of the abdomen.

Gallbladder pain typically manifests in this region and might extend to the right shoulder or back. On the other hand, liver pain can be dull and nonspecific. The location of liver pain can be back. Despite the similarities, recognizing the specific nature of the pain and accompanying symptoms can aid in identifying the root cause.

What are the 3 signs of a fatty liver?

NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) can manifest with various symptoms. Some common signs include experiencing a dull or aching pain in the upper right area of the abdomen, typically over the lower right side of the ribs. Patients may also complain of fatigue and overwhelming tiredness and may report unexplained weight loss.

How does liver pain start?

Liver pain can manifest in various ways, and its onset may differ depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, liver pain may develop gradually and subtly; in others, it may arise suddenly and intensely. The liver may become tender to touch as inflammation or damage progresses. This tenderness may be noticeable when pressing the abdomen around the liver region.

What stage does liver pain start?

Liver pain can manifest at different stages of liver disease or conditions affecting the liver. Here are some standard stages and conditions where liver pain may occur: Early Stages, Progression of Liver Disease and Advanced Liver Disease.

In the early stages, liver damage is usually not extensive, and symptoms may be mild. During the initial phases of liver disease, like fatty liver disease or mild inflammation, you might experience discomfort or a slight ache in the upper-right abdomen.

As liver disease advances, the pain in the liver may become more pronounced and persistent. Conditions like viral hepatitis or alcoholic liver disease can lead to liver inflammation and damage, increasing sensitivity in the liver area. Pain in the back can be observed.

In the later stages of liver disease, such as cirrhosis, liver pain can become more noticeable. Cirrhosis is about significant scarring of the liver tissue. It results in impaired liver function. The liver may enlarge, and the pain can intensify and endure.

Does a fatty liver cause pain?

Fatty liver disease can remain unnoticed until it progresses to cirrhosis. However, if symptoms manifest, they may include experiencing discomfort or feeling fullness in the upper right area of the abdomen. Some people may also experience nausea or weight loss. Being vigilant about these signs and promptly seeking medical attention for proper evaluation and care is crucial to ensure the best possible outcomes for liver health.

How do I know if my liver is OK?

First, liver-related pain is not common if your liver is healthy. So, can your liver hurt out of nowhere? Not likely. To determine if your liver is okay, consider getting liver function tests (LFTs) to assess liver enzymes and consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation. Watch out for symptoms like jaundice, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Does liver pain come and go?

Liver pain can vary in nature and intensity depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, pain in the liver area comes and goes, especially during the early stages or if the liver is only mildly affected. However, the pain may be constant and persistent in more severe conditions or advanced liver disease.

What does early liver damage feel like?

Noticing and naming early signs of liver disease can be challenging. Fatigue is the most common among the initial symptoms, yet it is also associated with various conditions and lifestyle factors. And this is why liver disease may not be immediately suspected.

Instead, it often comes to light when more advanced symptoms emerge, such as easy bruising, jaundice, itching, or abdominal pain. Due to the non-specific nature of early indicators, it is crucial to remain vigilant and consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation to detect liver disease promptly and initiate appropriate management.

Can liver inflammation go away?

How can I detox my liver in 3 days?

Pain in the liver area can be solved with a focused cleanse. The juice fast is a 3-day detox diet focused on consuming only raw vegetable and fruit juices. This regimen floods the body with essential phytonutrients and antioxidants, providing protection against free radical damage and aiding in eliminating toxins. For an effective liver cleanse, consider incorporating the following beverages into your juice cleanse plan:

How long does liver pain last?

When your liver hurts, your daily life can easily get affected, and that is why you would like to know how long this pain will last. The duration of liver pain depends on the underlying cause. In cases of alcohol-related liver disease, discontinuing alcohol consumption can alleviate pain within a few weeks. So, breaking the cycle of whatever habit is causing your inflammation can help. However, if the liver damage is extensive, complete healing may not be possible despite treatment and lifestyle changes.