Liver pain

[Jhewkin1]

I have p b c when I see an doctor I ask him him about pain in the liver he it nothing to do with liver so why do we get pains on the right side under the ribs

[NotorDJP]

Doctors say that, but its crap (pardon my french!)

The liver itself doesn't have any nerves, but the sack around it does and when it swells it gives us pain. I have pain over there all the time. I know when I have pain my liver is swollen or inflamed. I usually have caused it myself due to eating the wrong things, but sometimes it does it for no reason. I hurt much much less now that I am on URSO.

[Tj2929783]

Hi Jhewkin1,

I have pain in the liver area all the time. While the liver itself does not have pain receptors, the area around it does. So when your liver is having issues and swells, it can cause great discomfort. I am not sure why some doctors get caught up in semantics. But don't worry you are not alone. There are many of us that experience this pain. I guess it is just part and parcel of this disease.

Right Upper Quadrant pain is listed as a symptom of PBC. Here are a few sights that list it.

"Right upper quadrant pain or discomfort: occurs in 10-15%."

patient.co.uk/doctor/primar...

"Abdominal discomfort around the liver (upper right hand side of the abdomen)"

betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhc...

"Discomfort in the upper right part of the abdomen."

webmd.com/digestive-disorde...

"Pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen"

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

I hope this helps!

~TJ

[Jhewkin1 in reply to Tj2929783]

Hi thank you I seem to get pain when lift things heavy

[Hidden]

Hello Jhewkin1.

It seems the 'in thing' that doctors, well most (I did once read about liver pain, it is real) appear to think that we can't feel pain round the liver area. We have a nerve, the phrenic that runs down from our neck and it is thought to be this that feels it that causes the pain.

Anyone who has a liver biopsy (I haven't) can often feel a sharp rapid pain at the point of impact with the liver by the biopsy needle and it reckoned this nerve so figures if you can do so.

I am fortunate at present that I don't actually feel a pain in liver area but I do from time-to-time feel a shoulder ache which does correlate with this.

[Puddles]

I had a similar experience with my first specialist, she got quite annoyed about me repeatedly asking about it and said "I can assure you it has nothing to do with your liver". I had been having scans and tests through my GP for a few months before investigating this right upper abdominal pain, with no cause found. Then a few more months later I was incidentally found to be positive for AMA and confirmed to have PBC. Since starting Urso that discomfort has pretty much disappeared.

[CathieG]

When I had my results I asked if the medication would take away the pain. The doctor said I did not have pain in my liver, not possible. He is sending me for an MRI incase there is another reason. All very good but it worries me that the person I am supposed to trust with my liver doesn't appear to have a clue! When I go back to St James's I will be well armed with facts . Thanks for the explanation about the nerve, now I know I'm not having ghost symptoms! I also have shoulder pain which I didn't have during or after my biopsy. I can't really reach up for things very easily now and bought myself a grabber stick. Oh well, it's Saturday and I have a shopping trip planned, pity about the weather but I don't let that spoil my days any more.