Your experience with liver pain

[youngandworried]

Just looking to compare experiences really.

I have a fatty liver (on bloods and echo), waiting for a fibroscan to find out if there's any damage.

Some people tell me that you can't get pain with a fatty liver, you can only get pain with cirrhosis. Some people tell me that it's perfectly possible to get pain with a fatty liver and no scaring. It's very confusing. Even doctors give differing opinions.

My pain is a deep, dull ache in the upper right abdomen just under the ribs which wraps to the side and back. Occasional shooting pain. One doctor told me this could be normal for fatty liver, another told me it's impossible and unless I have advanced cirrhosis it must be caused by something else. I don't have any gallstones and kidney's are normal.

[32malewithcolitis]

I had what they said looks like mild fatty liver. Had raised alt for 3 months only mildly though. So they did full liver panel which was ok and an ultrasound which just confirmed a bit of fat infiltration but they told me it’s very common and not to worry about it: didn’t say I needed further scans so interested as to why you have.

I also have right discfomort but also have colitis so could be that: but you can get discomfort with fatty liver for sure

[Hidden]

If you have a fatty liver confirmed on Ultrasound scan the latest national guidelines from NICE and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) highlight the need for an assessment of liver fibrosis, so a FibroScan is a very good idea.

Hopefully you will know more and have a plan after your fibroscan. Keep us posted.

[jazzjam]

I have never had pain or ache in the area where my liver is, I have cirrhosis and it states fatty liver on my recent MRI. The only ache I get and also feel as though something is in the way is under my right rib area, the doc has told me it is my gall bladder, I have lots of stones. I certainly don’t notice it unless I think about it.

[Hidden]

Hi

I was diagnosed with nafld 4 years ago caused by meds from my drs over the years, after biopsy I was diagnosed with Nash and after a fibroscan was diagnosed with compensated cirrhosis. I have had upper right quadrant pain from before being diagnosed with nafld. My consultant told me my liver is so fatty and enlarged it stretches the capsule around it which causes the pain. Hope this helps. Take care and stay safe Lynne

[briccolone]

hi there, this stuff about not having pain with fatty liver is nonsense-take it from me. There are countless accounts of fatty liver pain on this forum and I can vouch for them. They differ from person to person though...

[Edwen_]

Yes I had similar pain from fatty liver. I was told it was to do with the swollen liver pressing on nerves.