Liver Pain > My Liver Hurts! Where Does Liver Pain Hurt?

Liver pain treatment

Treatment for liver conditions depends on the cause and the severity of the ailment. Pain symptoms usually improve with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. However, there is much more to do than simply alleviate the pain.

• In infectious conditions such as hepatitis virus, it is essential to help the body eliminate the infectious agent. Antiviral medications and antibiotics can be used depending on the type of infection.
• In the case of cirrhosis and advanced liver disease, it is essential to evaluate the patient’s health to make sure that they don’t need a liver transplant. Compensated liver disease should also have extra measures to prevent reaching a decompensated and life-threatening illness.
• In the case of fatty liver disease, it is essential to control our triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Sometimes doing so requires a type of medication known as statins.
• Surgery can be the only available treatment sometimes, especially in medical emergencies. When gallstones block the bile ducts, and the patient requires a surgical solution in case of liver cancer. It is sometimes accompanied by oral or intravenous drugs, and hospitalization might be necessary to keep an eye on the liver function.

As you can see, there’s a variety of liver conditions, and most of them cause pain or discomfort located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Thus, if you have a lingering and dull pain in this area, talk to your doctor as soon as possible to find out the cause and plan your treatment before it turns into a dangerous health problem.

References

Portincasa, P., Moschetta, A., Petruzzelli, M., Palasciano, G., Di Ciaula, A., & Pezzolla, A. (2006). Symptoms and diagnosis of gallbladder stones. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, 20(6), 1017-1029.

Tsochatzis, E. A., Bosch, J., & Burroughs, A. K. (2014). Liver cirrhosis. The Lancet, 383(9930), 1749-1761.

De Zeng, M., Fan, J. G., Lu, L. G., Li, Y. M., Chen, C. W., Wang, B. Y., … & Disease, F. L. (2008). Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. Journal of digestive diseases, 9(2), 108-112.

Dey, A., & Cederbaum, A. I. (2006). Alcohol and oxidative liver injury. Hepatology, 43(S1), S63-S74.

Bishayee, A. (2014). The inflammation and liver cancer. Inflammation and cancer, 401-435.