How to Deal with Liver Pain Symptoms
The first thing you’ll want to know is what liver pain symptoms feel like? How do you know it’s not something else? Most people don’t know the exact location of the organs in their body. It’s not always easy to identify these symptoms if you’ve never experienced them before. People who had them before describe liver pain symptoms as a throbbing ache in the upper right side of their abdomen (your mid-section). Sometimes it can come with an intense, sharp, stabbing sensation. If something is wrong enough with your liver to cause liver discomfort, then there is likely swelling going on. That swelling can put pressure on other organs and parts of your body. This may feel like a pain in the right side of your back or shoulder, in addition to the pain we described above.
What is the Liver? What Does it Do?
Since we’re discussing liver pain symptoms, it makes sense to talk about what the liver is and what it does. The liver is a brown, rubbery-feeling organ that rests on the right side of your belly, just on top of your gallbladder and pancreas. Your liver’s main job is keeping your blood clean. Blood comes from your digestive organs, like your stomach, into the liver. It cleans out toxins and processes any drugs you might take. Knowing all that, it’s not hard to see why the liver is such an important organ.
Some of what your liver does includes:
- Detoxifying your blood.
- Activates enzymes.
- Assisting in metabolizing fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
- Regulates levels of chemicals in the blood.
- Excretes bile to carry waste out of the liver.
Please Remember…
Before you read further, we want to remind you that nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. You should never try to diagnose yourself by reading things off the Internet and act on that self-diagnosis. Unless that action is to contact your doctor or go to the hospital. You should never try to guess what might be wrong and treat your own symptoms. This is especially true when it comes to things involving your internal organs. This article is intended only to provide some food for thought. We want you to be aware of what these symptoms are like and what they could mean. The last thing we want if for you to become a hypochondriac or worry needlessly. Don’t speculate and worry, but if you have the symptoms described above, Ask for help. Seek medical attention. Sensibly and calmly.
Why Do I Have Liver Pain Symptoms?
There are any number of reasons why you might have liver pain symptoms. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, again, you should not try to diagnose yourself. You should definitely not try to diagnose and treat yourself. If you have symptoms, the best thing to do is seek medical advice from a professional. If they seem at all serious, call 911. Now, there are several conditions which can cause liver discomfort. But it’s also possible to have liver disease without liver discomfort. The best way to keep your liver healthy is to avoid alcohol, drugs and fatty foods.
Some of the diseases of the liver which could cause liver discomfort include:
- Cirrhosis
- Liver Cancer
- Gallstones
- Hepatitis
- Hemochromatosis
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Conclusion
Anything that’s known to be a toxin you should avoid, since your liver is the organ that will have to deal with it. There is evidence that some natural remedies, such as milk thistle may be helpful to liver health. Finally, you should have blood work done annually with your doctor. One of the things they can check in a blood panel is liver enzymes. This information along with other info can help your doctor assess your liver health. Put simply, taking care of your body will help your liver stay healthier. If you have any questions, especially about liver pain symptoms or liver pain treatment, you should always ask your doctor. Finally, remember that if you or someone you love is living with a mental health or substance use disorder, Harmony Treatment and Wellness can help. Give us a call at (772) 247-6180 or connect to us through our contact page here.