In terms of permanent damage regarding the liver, and most organs of the body for that matter, it's a question of the impact on what's called 'functional reserve' and the tissue's capacity to regenerate. As many people are aware - the Liver is capable of regenerating, all that is required is anwhere from a third to a half remaining functional; this is in stark contrast to say, the lungs or kidneys - however these tissues have a high functional reserve (that is - spare tissue, so to speak). The pain caused by liver damage is usually felt on the right hand side, just above or around the area where the ribs end (the costal margin) - however it can be a diffuse pain depending on the nature of the damage. However, as blood tests for hepatic function/damage (eLFTs) are a profile of sorts, it is highly unlikely that if they are clear that you have sustained liver damage. In the event of acute liver damage a distinct elevation in AST/ALT occurs. In terms of permanent, chronic damage the elevation in AST/ALT is lower however there may be signs such as low plasma albumin or high bililrubin etc. If the blood tests were clear it is probably not to do with your Hepatobilary or Pancreatic system. Roaccutane's mode of action is unclear but it seems to suppliment the non-specific/innate cellular mediated immune system and can cause more disseminated states of inflammation, it's possible that you're experiencing some measure of irritable bowel syndrome - take notice of your bowel habits and fluctuations/relieving factors of the discomfort and if it is relieved after using the bathroom then it's probably that. This said I would talk more to your doctor about the pain and discomfort as it shouldn't be overlooked - treatment is about improving the quality of life as opposed to just treating disease.
i am a hep b carrier and when I drink lots my liver almost jumps, so I suspect it is your liver but only specialist tests will tell what is wrong, you need a liver doctor, ask for one. Incidentally, I had pains for years, nobody diagnosed what it was, same area, then I was abroad and collapsed. Gallstones. I had the gall bladder removed, and since then was told that I couldn't eat anything fatty or drink too much. When I do both those things I pay a horrible price. We must love ourselves more Just a warning that GP's in the UK couldnt diagnose such a simple thing as gallstones FOR YEARS :-D
I have always been a wine drinker and have regular health check-ups. I also drink a fair bit of coffee and tea and not nearly enough water. I recently started taking Acai Berry tablets to help me lose a bit of weight that I had gained. I also did a couple of liver cleanses in the past just to try to keep the liver healthy.
A few days ago, I stopped drinking alcohol completely and needless to say replaced it with more caffeine- tea and coffee.
I came on this forum tonight because I was feeling pressure under my ribs and was wondering if it was a problem with my liver. After a bit of research on the net and then returning to read the Acai Berry bottle I realized that the issue is the caffeine. These pills are not to be taken with excess caffeine. Ironically, these are the only pills I have ever taken.
The net of all if this for all of us is everything in moderation is the way to live our lives.
As I mentioned, I have been a regular drinker for some time, so please don't consider that I am judging anyone.
I have never really considered is a problem, nor did my doctors and all of my tests were fine. I am in my fifties and have always been healthy.
My suggestion to everyone on here is get back to basics, get some hobbies like working out or doing volunteer work or something. Spend quality time with people, family, friends take some extra courses.
Drinking doesn't have to be the only activity that we have.
And drink those recommended 8 glasses of water especially when you are drinking.
Stay healthy.
A few days ago, I stopped drinking alcohol completely and needless to say replaced it with more caffeine- tea and coffee.
I came on this forum tonight because I was feeling pressure under my ribs and was wondering if it was a problem with my liver. After a bit of research on the net and then returning to read the Acai Berry bottle I realized that the issue is the caffeine. These pills are not to be taken with excess caffeine. Ironically, these are the only pills I have ever taken.
The net of all if this for all of us is everything in moderation is the way to live our lives.
As I mentioned, I have been a regular drinker for some time, so please don't consider that I am judging anyone.
I have never really considered is a problem, nor did my doctors and all of my tests were fine. I am in my fifties and have always been healthy.
My suggestion to everyone on here is get back to basics, get some hobbies like working out or doing volunteer work or something. Spend quality time with people, family, friends take some extra courses.
Drinking doesn't have to be the only activity that we have.
And drink those recommended 8 glasses of water especially when you are drinking.
Stay healthy.
:-) i am a 24 year old female , i drink 8 cans of larger before i go out . while out i drink 5 wines half a jug of cocktails and most nigths i go to a party till 7 the next day .while at the party,i drink more beer and smoke abount 40 fags.i weigth 8 stone mostly eat pot noodles and crispes. i to have a pain in my side could i end up with health problems and if so how long could i get away with this life style.i go out 3 times aweek.
thank you for all of your input
I am 43 and have been binge drinking 2 to 3 times a week since i was 15 years old. The only break was for 3 years during pregnancy and after having my child. My first few drinks of alcohol are usually wine or lager and give me diarrhoea immediately, after that i am fine and can continue to drink. I only drink a few drinks these days before i am drunk. I think this is because of liver damage. I also have an ache under my right ribs when i eat a big meal which could be gallbladder which i also believe is related to a long history of alcohol consumption. i have decided to stop drinking altogether for a few months and see if i feel better and before any permanent damage is done. I enjoy a drink as i socialise a lot and feel there is a void when i am out with friends if i dont drink and that will be the hardest thing. i would love to live a life without it but have pressures as most people do and it is a really good release for me. i have had liver function tests and scans and they have all been absolutely normal. Does anyone else get an immediate onset of diarrhoea with their first few drinks of alcohol
This thread may be too old to be posted to, but I shall try. Having been a heavy drinker for about 15 years, and really heavy for the past 7 months (20-24 ounces of hard liquor a night) I have acquired a moderate to severe pain in my liver, towards my right side, as well as right kidney pain. Everyday, I vomit about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of mucus, sometimes along with bile. No blood, though, luckily. Last year I was sent to a gastroenterologist for the vomiting, and I find out I have chronic, acute pancreatitis. I also have extremely high triglycerides (over 750), so they were unsure if the tris' are causing the pancreatitis, or if it is causing the high tris'. I know I'm killing myself slowly, but does anybody think that once I stop drinking, the damage can be reduced or negated? I'm a 55 year old white male, somewhat overweight, and pseudo sedentary. Most of the problems came from a career of Law Enforcement, and retirement (not due to this problem, our department was put out of service and farmed out to the County Sheriff). Thanks.
you can try taking milk thisle, its really good for the liver. any health food store would have it. google it. lots of luck.
I also have this lower back pain on both sides of my body. Been a heavy drinker since late teens, started to notice it about a year ago and have avoided heavy drinking since. It cleared up after a while and I forgot about it. Went on a bit of a bender recently and it has come back.
Quite frightening really, body telling you to lay off the booze. Just have to be moderate and respect your Kidneys/liver otherwise you are headed for serious problems later on.
I think that taking other drugs in conjunction to alcohol (esctacy in my experience) make the problem much worse. Some drugs ingested are very toxic and harmful to the kidneys/liver moreso than just drinking heavily(In my opinion). Hope this helps or serves as a reality check to people with the same problem. No more heavy drinking for me ....
Quite frightening really, body telling you to lay off the booze. Just have to be moderate and respect your Kidneys/liver otherwise you are headed for serious problems later on.
I think that taking other drugs in conjunction to alcohol (esctacy in my experience) make the problem much worse. Some drugs ingested are very toxic and harmful to the kidneys/liver moreso than just drinking heavily(In my opinion). Hope this helps or serves as a reality check to people with the same problem. No more heavy drinking for me ....
Hey guys Im 29 and binge drink pretty much every weekend. Ill probably have 6-8 drinks a night. I recently begun experiencing back pains close to the center of my back about half way up my back, about 4 inches above the bottom of my rib cage, and it feels to be almost a surface pain, but when ni breath deeply i feel something pressing up against something.. It hs been a constant pain for about a week now, nothing unbearable, but definately a concern. I was just wondering if based on the location of these pains, if anybody has any suggestions as to what may be casing the pain. I hear alot of posters saying their liver or kidney pains are lower and mostly near the front of their bodies. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanx
I've had the same problem develop over the last 6 months -- always after drinking (I'm not huge on hard liquor but definitely hit the wine/champagne often). I also drink a lot of coffee. This article made me feel better, but I'm still seeing the Dr. later this week
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I am worried, my liver keeps hurting after drinking booze. Not always but most times i drink i have bad pains afterwards for few days and feel weak. Ive been to my doctor who did liver function test but it came back ok along with blood tests. I am spose to go for a scan but im stupid and dont ever turn up because i fear the worst and often have too miss work (self employed). I am 24 years old, surely this aint right? I am guna go for the scan! but what do you think this could be? I went travelling in oz and nz for year and drank alot of booze but felt fine there! also slept with fair few girls? is it possible that its a infection like std related? Please help i cant sleep at night with worrie!
I just wanted to throw in my two cents as I have used alcohol actively for around 9 years to help with bouts of insomnia, rarely binge drinking. I too have the pain but when I am alcohol free it goes away, have had tests just like everyone else and liver tests fine, blood fine. I was doing fine until this past weekend when over the past few weeks I had been using Nyquil for a cold and then melatonin to again regulate sleep. Both the Nyquil and melatonin can bring back these symptoms if they are in fact liver related. It's our bodies telling us something like many others have said.
Please listen.
All - I had the same problem as many of you described and I can assure you its your liver. I had test after test and everything came back normal. I wouldn't quit and persisted that my doctor give me a biopsy. It showed minimal scarring (cirrhosis). You have to give up alcohol and drugs or the damage will continue to progress. I am alcohol / drug free for 8 months and the pain has gotten a whole lot better but still comes and goes. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy (lots of fruits and veggies) and take a multivitamin. Get lots of antioxidants in you. This will all help but the corner stone of treatment should be the cessation of alcohol / drugs.
To be honest with everyone, I've been a HARDCORE alcoholic since I was 18. I'm 24 now. I thought it was a cool at that time to out drink everyone else and I realize now how stupid that theory was. I have CONSTANT back pains all day long every single day. I was in a bad accident in January and it was't from drinking because I don't mix my drinking with work. I was on way home from work and lost control my truck on black ice and flew off the side of the road and rolled my truck 3 times. After going to the hospital the doctors did blood tests and told me I have to stop drinking because my liver is starting to show damage. It breaks my heart at 24 years old that I have such a problem that I need to stop because I want to be a social drinker for the rest of the life to enjoy alcohol for fun at parties like everyone else does but the doctors say that's not the case. I have the same issues as everyone else, but I get the pains in both sides of my lower back and I'm afraid of dying for Kidney or Liver cancer or Cirrhosis and I don't know what to do. I went to Rehab but never really wanted to quit, I just did it because my parents wanted me to because I didn't think I have a problem. But at 24 years old, I sometimes cry myself to sleep because I don't enjoy drinkining anymore, I just do it because drinking is my drug of choice and I often drink shots of booze and 7.1 % beer in order to get the buzz I'm looking for. So anyone who is looking for more info about their lower back pains and want to know if it is LIVER related, ABSOLUTELY!