Hi, my name is Gary and am 57 years old. I have had a pain in my lower back to the right. This started months ago and am having a blood test tomorrow to see if I have liver disease. I am a heavy drinker and have been for a while. It's not back pain basically because it's not in my back, but much more to the side. It's getting worse and sometime it prevents me from walking. It's like having stitch all of the time.
Any ideas of what it could be?
Hi Gary, none of us are doctors so we can't really give guidance as to what any pain might be and it would be wiser to await your blood tests and results as yes it could be your liver grumbling away (the liver itself doesn't have pain receptors but it is enclosed in a membrane called the Glisson's Capsule which can be very painful when stretched which is what might happen if the liver is inflamed/enlarged due to inflammation). It could also be issues with your kidneys as they are also in your back on the sides and they too could cause pain, as could gall bladder or pancreas issues. Really would be best to wait and see what the blood results say.
As a heavy drinker you are obviously here suspecting it might be your liver and indeed it could be. It might be time to seriously rethink your drinking habits. The British Liver Trust has an excellent page on Alcohol and the liver at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...
Let us know how you get on with the results and we can offer guidance more appropriately once you know what is actually going on.
All the best, Katie
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