Gallbladder pain can be sudden, intense, and severe. Show The most common reason for the pain is gallstones — hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form inside your gallbladder. Inflammation or infection of your gallbladder are other possible culprits. The good news is there are treatments to effectively relieve gallbladder pain. Read on to learn more about what gallbladder pain feels like and how to alleviate the discomfort. Your gallbladder is a small sac that’s located in your right upper abdomen, just below your liver. According to the Canadian Society for Intestinal Research, your gallbladder stores bile — a digestive fluid — that’s made by your liver. Gallstone painBile helps break down fats during digestion and is made up of different substances, such as:
Your liver continually makes bile until you consume food. When you eat, your stomach releases a hormone that causes muscles around your gallbladder to release the bile. Gallbladder pain is an indication that something isn’t right. When gallstones cause a blockage of one of the ducts that move bile, they can trigger sudden and escalating pain, which is sometimes dubbed a “gallstone attack.” Pain locationThe pain is usually felt in your upper right abdomen but can spread to your upper back or shoulder blade. Some people also experience pain in the center of their abdomen, just below their breastbone. This discomfort can last several minutes to a few hours. A 2012 research review showed that up to 15 percent of adults in the United States have or will have gallstones. Gallstones don’t always lead to pain. According to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, studies show that about 50 percent of patients with gallstones don’t experience symptoms. Gallbladder inflammation painInflammation of your gallbladder, a condition called cholecystitis, commonly happens when gallstones block the tube leading out of your gallbladder. This produces bile buildup, which can cause inflammation. Other conditions can also trigger inflammation of your gallbladder, including:
Symptoms of cholecystitis may include:
These symptoms often happen after eating, especially following a large or fatty meal. If untreated, cholecystitis can lead to serious, even life threatening complications, such as:
Gallbladder infection painA gallbladder infection is another condition that can occur when a gallstone causes an obstruction. When the bile builds up, it can become infected and lead to a rupture or abscess. Symptoms of a gallbladder infection may include:
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, if you’re having a gallstone attack, you may also experience other symptoms, such as:
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, other conditions may cause symptoms that feel similar to gallbladder pain. Some of these include:
You should call your doctor if you have any symptoms of gallbladder pain that concern you. Certain complications of a gallstone attack can be serious or life threatening. You should seek immediate medical care if you develop:
Doctors may perform different tests to diagnose your condition, including an:
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there’s not much you can do to stop a gallbladder attack while it’s happening. You may want to apply a heated compress to the area to relieve the discomfort. Usually, the pain will ease once the gallstone has passed. Traditional treatment options for gallbladder attack include surgery to remove your gallbladder or medicines to help dissolve the gallstones. You might be able to prevent a gallstone attack by reducing your fatty food intake and maintaining a healthy weight. Some other measures that could lower your chances of having gallbladder pain include:
Gallbladder pain is usually caused by gallstones that block bile ducts. This common condition can cause severe pain. For some people, the discomfort will go away on its own. Others may need treatments or surgery to remove their gallbladder. You can function well and live a full life without a gallbladder. How long does a flare up of gallstones last?Gallstones can cause sudden, severe abdominal pain that usually lasts 1 to 5 hours (although it can sometimes last just a few minutes). The pain can be felt: in the centre of your abdomen (tummy)
Can gallstone pain last for days?In most patients, a gallbladder attack will last one to four days and then subside. In rare severely affected patients, the gallbladder wall may rupture (perforate) or pus may build up within the gallbladder (empyema). In these patients, surgery may be necessary.
Can you have a gallbladder attack for days?The symptoms of acute cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) are similar to biliary colic but more painful and longer lasting. They include: Pain in the upper right or mid abdomen that is severe and constant. It may last for days.
What does a gallstone attack feel like?Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone. Back pain between your shoulder blades. Pain in your right shoulder.
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