I'm a recent transplant patient and even though I did not suffer from liver pains, during my hopital stay I talked with several patients who did. Several did not make it. I would suggest you ask your gastroentrologist for a full liver panel test (alt, ast) and a ct scan with contrast (shows any hard or unusual substance on your liver). If your afp (alpha-feta-protein) values are high you may have a tumor. I did, and only a ct scan with contrast will prove it. I was lucky and caught it early but the only cure was a transplant. You need to stop drinking, now. You may have cirrohsis or the onset of one. If you don't and your test shows you need a transplant you will not be accepted into the tranplant program. They do not want to risk giving you a new liver and then you turn around and destroy it by drinking. Over 18,000 people are on the tranplant wait list and less than 3,000 will get one. Good luck and wish you the best... Here's is another forum with more activity and where people do respond to your questions.
Http://This link has been removed/perl6/hepatitis/wwwboard.Html

Hi, i'm new to this sight. Just last night I started having very slight pain as you describe, like when you've run a long way. Searched liver problems and ended up here. I know very little about the liver and problems assoc. With it. However, I can tell you that I drank very heavily for most of my adult life, and did many drugs as well- I am both an alcoholic and an addict. I've been sober now just over 6 years and recently had some routine blood work done at a checkup. When I first became sober, my levels were pretty high, no problems there since that I am aware of. What I can share with you is that I began attending aa meetings regularly( almost daily), and found a much better way of life, even putting the drinking thing aside. They helped me tear down all of the walls and garbage I had built up over the years and start making something more of myself that I ever thought possible. I really don't want to come across too heavy, i'm no evangelist, nor an angel, just thought i'd pass on my experience. It actually helps me to stay sober, so thanks for reading. Write me if you feel the urge and good luck! Tim

Question: how long does it usually take for the pain to go away after the last day of drinking?

I am like the original poster of this topic in that i've been drinking heavily for 10 years (31 y/o male)....And 4 days ago had my first bout of "liver pain"....Pain in the right-upper quadrant of my abdomen.

I haven't drank since 4 days ago when the pain first appeared, and now the pain is manageable in that it is subsiding enough to be able to sleep....And I expect it to go away soon.

I am going to experiment tonight, and drink a beer very slowly to find out if the pain is really due to a liver problem or if it was some kind of muscle strain....Maybe have a couple beers to see if the pain does come back, and if it does, then I know what I am up against.

Thanks for any help,
k