Surviving John

When you’re told you may have a liver disorder, more than a few questions about the possiblity of liver pain quickly come to mind. The first is clear: what’s the cause of my liver pain? But you’ll also want to know where will it hurt if it happens? How harsh will it be? How long will it last? We’ll address the answers to these questions in this article.

Individuals feel liver pain in various ways.. Some remark they are suffering from excruciating liver pain and it feels like the liver will be destroyed. Others say their liver pain isn’t sharp at all, but is rather a dull, aching tenderness or discomfort in the area of the lower rib cage. These individuals say they feel somewhat swollen or bloated.

Pain in the liver area is generally in the right front side of the trunk, in the vicinity of the bottom of the chest. Then again, some patients even experience liver pain in his right shoulder, which causes tenderness when they breathe in or cough.

Pain in the liver area can be related to a disorder with the liver itself, but there can also be secondary liver pain caused by a problem with another part of the body, principally the gallbladder, blood vessels or bile ducts.

If the pain comes from the liver itself, it is frequently because of some kind of inflammation. Inflammation is one of the most frequent causes of liver pain.

If pain in the liver area does not come directly from the liver, it may instead be caused by an obstruction of some type in the bile duct by a stone. This type of pain in the liver, also known as biliary colic, ordinarily comes on suddenly and can keep up as long as several hours. Pain starts in the upper middle quadrant or right upper quadrant but could also occur between the shoulder blades or shoulders.

Liver pain that is due to biliary colic is most likely to happen after ingesting a fatty meal.

Other causes of pain in liver area include cholangitis, or inflammation of the bile duct, gall bladder disease, hepatitis, and liver abscess. At times liver cysts also cause liver pain.

Generally, a variety of medications are effective in relieving pain in the liver area. These include NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that curb symptoms of swelling and pain, meperidine (also known as Demerol), and morphine. Your physician will prescribe the most appropriate medication for your liver pain depending on his or her diagnosis of the cause and the level of pain.

You can learn more about liver pain and related topics by visiting Liver Health, a resource website dedicated to liver health and wellness. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host with a special interest in health, fitness and medical topics.

Enlarged liver is a generic term for a condition that results in abnormal liver growth, which can have serious medical consequences. It may be caused by one or a combination of illnesses or diseases. In some patients the liver becomes only slightly enlarged. In others, it can grow quite big and be described as grossly enlarged. Generally speaking, an adult human liver weighs 3-4 pounds ir 1.5 kilograms. It is somewhat oblong in shape. Some say it resembles a small American football.

Doctor describe an enlarged liver as hepatomegaly.

Hepatomegaly is not itself considered to be a disease. It is more a symptom of some other liver problem.

An enlarged liver can occur for a number of reasons. The most frequently diagnosed causes include the following.

* Various forms of hepatitis

* Polycystic liver disease, which results when numerous cysts appear on the liver.

* Certain types of infections that have an impact on the liver, including mono and malaria.

* Liver cysts, which are small, round sacs that are sometimes empty, sometimes filled with mucous or watery fluids. These grow on the liver.

* Cirrhosis, typically the result of a disease like hepatitis or an addiction to alcohol or drugs. Cirrhosis is characterized by scarring of liver tissue, which reduces liver function.

* Fatty liver disease, which happens when your liver accumulates fat due to poor nutrition or diet (and sometimes other reasons). As fat builds, liver function decreases.

* Certain types of cancer may contribute to enlarging the liver. This is particularly true in the case of leukemia.

Symptoms often depend on the degree of enlargement. A slightly enlarged liver won’t present any symptoms. But a grossly enlarged liver may cause abdominal fullness and some pain.

When there are symptoms, they might include the following.

* Ascites, a disorder usually associated with serious kidney problems. It occurs when fluid builds up in the peritoneal cavity, which is the area between the abdominal lining and the organs in the abdomen.

* Cholestasis, which happens when bile flow is blocked between the liver and the bile ducts.

* Jaundice, in which the skin and eyes begin to look yellow. This is caused by too much pigment in the bloodstream.

Diagnosis of the cause of an enlarged liver is the key to choosing a proper course of treatment. If the cause is related to alcohol overuse, it’s important to stop drinking. Poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise are factors that contribute to liver enlargement. Your doctor will suggest some important lifestyle and nutritional changes.

You can avoid getting an enlarged liver by following these guidelines.

Avoid excessive use of alcohol, and never drink when you’re taking medications.

Similarly, take care to avoid consuming multiple medications. Be sure to observe dosage recommendations.

Also discuss herbal supplements with your doctor. Some have the potential to damage the liver in certain situations.

Make sure you don’t take vitamin combinations that may cause liver trouble. Combinations of vitamins A, D, E and K may cause liver problems.

Take care when using aerosol cleaners, insecticides and other toxic chemicals. Keep the area well ventilated. There are a variety of household cleaners that contain toxins that can be harmful to the liver.

And here’s one final thought that is worth repeating. Eating a healthy diet, getting some regular exercise and avoiding obesity are the absolute best ways to prevent problems with an enlarged liver.

Related topics: liver problem and symptoms of an enlarged liver. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and television journalist. To read more of his articles, click on You And Your Liver.

The feeling of pain in the area of the liver comes to different people in different ways. Some patients feel extreme discomfort – they describe it by saying it feels like their liver is ready to explode. Others describe their pain as “just an occasional discomfort.” They feel an aching sensation when they breathe in or cough. These people who have pain in the area of the liver say they feel somewhat swollen or bloated.

There are a number of possible causes for pain in the area of the liver. It can be a problem with the liver itself, or it result from a problem with some other organ or part of the body that is related to the liver in some way. For example, there could be trouble with the gallbladder, biliary tract, or blood vessels near the liver. Pain coming from the liver itself is usually due to inflammation of some kind. Such inflammation can result from any number of reasons.

Cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure and hepatitis are several of the most serious problems that can affect your liver. There are, in fact, many different types of liver problems that can trigger liver pain.

If the pain doesn’t actually originate in the liver, it may be due to an obstruction of the biliary tract, like a stone. This type of liver pain, which is also known as biliary colic, can usually come on quickly and may last as long as several hours. Pain of this type 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 usually happens after you’ve eaten a large fatty meal. Other causes of pain in the area of the liver include a liver abscess and cholangitis or inflammation of the biliary duct. Sometimes, liver cysts can 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:

* Drugs known as NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs require a doctor’s prescription, but you can get other forms over the counter.

* Demerol, which is also known as Meperidine.

* Morphine

Liver pain shouldn’t be ignored. Anytime you have soreness or tenderness near the bottom of your ribcage, it’s a good idea to call 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.

Do you need more information on pain caused by the liver? Click on liver trouble.