Does early-stage cirrhosis hurt when pressed?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 04, 2025
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The anatomical location of the liver is covered by the ribs, so generally, the liver cannot be felt below the lower edge of the ribs, and since it is covered by the ribs, the liver cannot be pressed, hence there is no such thing as pain upon pressing. When we generally check for liver pain, we use percussion pain. By percussing the area of the liver, which is under the rib area, pain can be elicited in the liver, this is called percussion pain. The liver generally does not have tenderness because it simply cannot be pressed. Early stages of liver cirrhosis usually exhibit little to no pain sensation. However, some symptoms might appear during the decompensated phase, such as fatigue, weight loss, dull complexion, reduced urine output, edema, and spider angiomata, among other symptoms.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can severe cirrhosis be cured?

Severe cirrhosis is understood to refer to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is the later stage of the condition, primarily characterized by the hardening of the liver. Additionally, it presents a series of bodily complications such as ascites, as well as esophageal and gastric varices caused by portal hypertension. Sometimes, because of these varices, accidental rupture can occur during eating, leading to severe bleeding, which is a major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage — a very dangerous complication. If this bleeding is not controlled, it can become life-threatening. Moreover, the skin may display spider nevi, and palmar erythema can appear on the hands; these are common manifestations and complications during the decompensated phase of cirrhosis. Thus, cirrhosis is not curable. Treatment focuses on symptomatic relief to minimize discomfort caused by the symptoms, but the disease itself cannot be cured.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Will cirrhosis continue to progress if there are no symptoms?

Cirrhosis may not have symptoms, yet it can still progress. There are various causes of cirrhosis, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, and fatty liver disease, among others. If the underlying causes are not removed, cirrhosis can continue to progress even without symptoms. For example, in chronic hepatitis B, if no effective antiviral treatment is administered, the patient may progress to decompensated cirrhosis in the absence of symptoms, which in severe cases, can lead to the development of liver cancer. Therefore, once cirrhosis is diagnosed, it is crucial to actively identify the cause and adopt different treatments according to the specific cause, such as abstaining from alcohol if the cirrhosis is alcohol-related.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Is early-stage cirrhosis easy to detect?

Early-stage liver cirrhosis can be detected through abdominal ultrasound examinations or blood tests, such as liver function tests, liver fibrosis quartet tests, or transient elastography of the liver. Once early-stage liver cirrhosis is diagnosed, further diagnostic tests are necessary to promptly determine the underlying causes of liver cirrhosis, allowing for causal and symptomatic treatment to begin as soon as possible. After the onset of liver cirrhosis, it is crucial to regularly complete abdominal ultrasound examinations and gastroscopy to check for the presence of complications such as ascites or bleeding from esophagogastric varices, among others.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if cirrhosis causes general weakness?

Liver cirrhosis can lead to general weakness due to electrolyte disorders or severe liver function impairment, causing the symptoms mentioned above. Once general weakness occurs, it is necessary to go to the hospital for comprehensive auxiliary examinations, such as liver function tests, routine blood tests, and electrolyte tests. Additionally, imaging studies of the abdomen should be performed to determine whether conditions like ascites, anemia, or hyponatremia exist. Different treatments are administered based on different disease diagnoses. For instance, if the weakness is due to severe ascites causing dilutional hyponatremia, sodium supplementation might be necessary, along with appropriate ascites drainage.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What foods are good for cirrhosis?

The usual diet plays a crucial role for patients with cirrhosis, and it has been confirmed that nutritional therapy is very important for reducing mortality and disability rates in patients with cirrhosis. Generally speaking, easily digestible, high-vitamin nutritional foods should be the main source of food, alcohol must be strictly prohibited, and consumption of vegetables and fruits should be increased. Salt intake can be controlled, and adjustments should be made according to different changes in the condition. Another point to note is that patients with esophageal and gastric varices must avoid consuming hard and rough food, as this could lead to rupture of the varices and cause severe bleeding.