Fatty liver pain is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, leading to inflammation and damage to nearby tissues and organs. If left untreated, it can cause the liver to stop functioning properly and lead to severe pain and even liver failure. Immediate medical attention is necessary in such cases.
Fatty liver pain occurs when a person has fatty liver disease, or FLD, in which large pockets of lipids known as vacuoles build up in the liver tissue and no longer process and effectively remove fat from the body. Often, the cause of the discomfort of the disorder isn’t actually in the liver itself, but in the surrounding tissues and organs irritated by the swollen and inflamed liver. The organ can be damaged and scarred by the presence of the fat vacuoles, which can cause pain. If the condition isn’t treated long enough, the organ can stop working properly, which can also lead to fatty liver pain.
The accumulation of fat in the liver caused by FLD often leads to inflammation of the organ, which in turn irritates nearby organs and tissues. The organ can also grow much larger than normal over time as fat levels rise; this abnormal growth in turn puts pressure on the area around the liver. Typically, this type of fatty liver pain is felt in the upper right side of the abdomen. It is usually not a sharp pain, at least not early in the course of the disease, but feels more like a dull ache. This can cause some patients to not seek diagnosis and treatment until the condition has progressed further, leading to further damage and pain.
Another potential cause of fatty liver pain is damage to the organ. The abnormal accumulation of fat vacuoles throughout the liver can cause damage and scarring of nearby healthy tissue. Pockets of fat also often cause the organ to become inflamed, which can lead to further damage if not treated promptly and effectively.
Although the symptoms of fatty liver disease may be minimal or even non-existent in the beginning, as the disease progresses, it can significantly affect the organ’s ability to function and can even cause it to shut down. In cases where the disease has progressed to this point, patients may begin to experience sharp, severe pain that comes on rapidly in the area of the abdomen near the liver. If this type of fatty liver pain occurs, it is imperative that the person seek immediate medical attention. Partial or complete liver failure can take a significant toll on the body and can ultimately be fatal.
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