Liver Biopsy pain won't go away!!

[Buckeyegirl]

When does the pain subside after a liver biopsy? I had my biopsy four days ago, and I did have bleeding in the liver and muscle, but was told that the pain would be less and less everyday. However, the pain keeps getting worse. I called the ultrasound department and they said that I could go to the ER if the pain increase, but the doctors and nurses at the ER are so rude. Any suggestions?

[48weeks]

I just noticed that this is an old thread. For me they gave me pain control and in a month or so the pain became bearable.

[48weeks]

This happened to me two years ago. It get's better, but it is really painful. It took about a month for all the pain to go away for me. You need pain meds. It's not fair that they tell you to go to the emergency room. They should be able to take care of it where had it done.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery. This is why I hated getting the biopsys, most people get through them fine, but I always had lots of pain. The bleeding absorbs into your body.

[fluffyfenoix]

I just had one myself...did they refer u to a liver specialist and give u som pain meds...if soan pain is overridding the meds i go back to the er but not the same er....tjats what i would do

[Frank J. Perrotta]

I think you mentioned that the dr/hospital knew you were bleeding internally from the biopsy when they released you! I think that was negligence on their part.

I agree with ceanothus in that you should consult with a pain specialist concerning your condition! It is outrageous to think that you could be crippled by pain for months! There must be something to do instead of just waiting for this to go away! If you are unable to advocate for yourself due to your condition try to find a family member or therapist who can help you get the best care.

Did you get copies of what these doctors have said about your condition? Pain specialist can have their hands tied unless you have lots of other reports to show what you are saying is the truth!

This is really unacceptable!

I really hope that you can get the best of care you deserve!

[frijole]

buckeyegirl (hi there, I was a buckeye girl myself) - did you have a needle biopsy?  I have had 2 laproscopic and one needle guided and must say the needle guided was a breeze compared to the other two and the recovery time was almost nothing.  I am sorry you had such a rough time and I hope by now the pain is subsiding.  I am assuming the glucose problem is unrelated to the biopsy, right?  Getting deydrated can really do some damage so please try to drink lots of fluids.

Noku77 - I have to agree with ceanathus.  The treatment protocol, especially with the new PI's, is very different when you are cirrhotic.  Also there was a trial, I think in France, recently called the CUPIC Trial which was a study of cirrhotics  There are more risk factors with cirrhotics and the way the doctor treats anemia may be very different.  It is not recommended, per this study, to dose reduce Ribavirin but rather use Epo to treat the anemia.  If possible I would get a biopsy if I were you.
frijole

[crossroadsec]

What stage did the biopsy say? I was in bed for a few days. Sore and bruised for weeks. I had to move very carefully. I was nauseated too.I hope you get to feeling better. Take it easy. I hope the pain slacks off. I'm glad you went to ER. Sounds like you had a lot going on... xo Karen:)

[ceanothus]

Nokia, I just wanted to say that there are some good reasons for assessing the status of your liver before treatment. If you are found to have stage 4 damage (cirrhosis) it makes a real difference in that the virus becomes harder to eliminate, requiring longer treatment periods for reasonable rates of SVR, and your odds of more serious side effects go up somewhat too, so your doctors may want to monitor you more closely. On the other hand, if you are found to be at stage 0 or 1, then it would be worthwhile to discuss possibly waiting to treat, as the next generation of drugs currently being tested show great promise of being both more effective and causing fewer side effects. They are expected to be approved in the U.S. in a couple of years but I have no idea what the timetable would be in Italy. Think carefully before rejecting a biopsy, unless you are offered an alternative assessment test.

[ceanothus]

Wow, it sounds like you hit some really bad luck with your biopsy! Mine was painful at the time and mildly painful for almost a week, then with just some "discomfort" in the area on an intermittent basis for about a year, and until your story my experience sounded worse than most people here have described. I hope your body can absorb that blood quickly, I know nerve pressure is horribly painful (I've had numerous experiences with it for other reasons). You might want to talk to a pain specialist early on to see if anything can be done to prevent your body from setting up extra pain circuitry in the area, as that can sometimes happen and make the pain last even longer than it would otherwise. Best wishes!

[Buckeyegirl]

Thank you all for your responses.....
I ended up going to the ER a week ago basically for pain control as the pain was unlike any I have ever had. While in the ER my glucose levels were out of control (405). When I was released they were down to 369...still not good. I saw my doctor a few days later (Wednesday) as the pain was still so umbearable. He admitted me to the hospital for hydration as I was unable to keep any fluids down nor food, and to hopefully stabilize my blood sugar.  I was given pain medication and nausea medication through my IV. They said that that the blood from the liver biopsy was stabilized to a corner of my liver and was hitting a nerve which was causing all of my pain. The doctors said that the pain will subside in days, weeks or months....it just depends on my body. "Oh how I pray that it isn't months". I am back to work today, but it is so hard to stay focused as the pain is so intense. The pain medication the doctor gave me isn't even touching the pain or the intensity. It hurts to take a breath. My chest hurts I think from all of this pain.
I don't know what I expect the doctors to do, but it's a struggle daily.

[nygirl7]

Never really had any pain at biopsy - I would go to the ER and have them figure out what it is. It could be something unrelated, one never knows.

[working dog]

my first bx the pain went away in a week or so two.......my second bx the pain took about 6 weeks to go away.....i think it depends on where they take that little chunk out....i'll bet theres nothing wrong at all...i remember posting here about it and there were others that for one reason or the other had the pain take some time to go away....

[Noku77]

Hello. I hope you get well soon. I haven't done yet the biopsy and to tell the truth, I don't want to do that. In this moment I have resulte positive with genotype 1B and I am redoing all tests from the beginin in Italy. I do not know what doctor will tell me there about the biopsy, but if I have decided to start the cure why the biopsy is needed?! I have read a lot of comment that the biopsy is need to see the damage grade of the liver but you could do nothing if it is phase one ore phase 3.
regards
n

[Frank J. Perrotta]

Have you gone to the ER?

How do you know that you were bleeding? Was it just after? during?

After my two biopsies they had me stay for a few hours to make sure there wasnt any internal bleeding or any other problems - such as pain ... and there was extra pain that didnt go away *** mine did turn out to be psychosomatic but the knife stabbing, hot coal pain lasted a long time causing many physical issues for over an hour until a morphine drip was started...

If you havent already started to the ER please call the Dr who ordered the biopsy and tell him that you are on the way to the ER due to some serious issue and you have been in serious pain for over four days. Have him call ahead and have a room ready for you, etc.

Fingers crossed it is nothing serious!

[Willy50]

I have heard of one or two punctured lungs, nicked diaphragms.  In the case of the lung they had to keep draining it.  

I'd go with the others; go to the ER and make sure you are OK.

willy

[Boobert]

If the pain is getting worse after 4 days than you definitely need to go to the E.R.

[BoceprevirGal]

   I would go to the E.R.~  I've never heard of that happening with a biopsy, the bleeding internally. But I have heard other bad scenarious, such as a lung that got punctured, and of someone having them remove tissue from an area, that wasn't actually the liver. It needs to be checked, and the E.R. Doctors have plemty of experience,that's all that counts, that and your safety