Abdominal pain (belly ache)

Call an ambulance or to straight to the Emergency Department if you have liver disease and you develop sudden, severe pain in your belly.

Abdominal pain, or belly ache, is common in people who have liver disease. It can get worse as the liver disease gets worse (progresses). Abdominal pain can be a sign you are in the advanced stages of liver disease.

For some people, the pain lasts for a few hours at a time. For some people, it lasts for weeks or months. In others, it comes and goes.

The pain can lead to sleeping problems, mood problems and the need to take a lot of pain medication.

Why you get abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is a symptom of liver disease. It can get worse when your liver is under strain, for example, if you drink alcohol or gain a lot of weight.

Sometimes it can be the first sign that you have a complication of liver disease, such as:

• Ascites
• Your liver is large and swollen (if you have cirrhosis)
• Liver cancer
• A blockage of the vein taking blood to the liver (portal hypertension)
• Tips for managing abdominal pain

Serious abdominal pain needs to be assessed and managed by a doctor. The doctor will try to find out what is causing the pain and may refer you for blood tests, scans or to a liver specialist. Other times, the doctor may reassure you that nothing serious is going on. The doctor may give you some strategies to help manage the pain.

You can help ease pain by eating a healthy balanced diet, controlling your weight, drinking enough water, and avoiding alcohol. Hot packs on your belly might help.

Sometimes long-lasting pain is controlled with therapy like mindfulness meditation or cognitive behavioural therapy. Your doctor can recommend the best treatment for you.

When to see your doctor

Abdominal pain should always be checked out by a doctor. See your doctor again if:

• the pain doesn’t go away or gets worse
• you also have shoulder pain
• you develop other symptoms of liver disease.

If you suddenly develop severe abdominal pain, go straight to the Emergency Department.

 

Reviewed September 2024