Gallbladder Pain? Don’t Panic, Get Relief!
It can certainly be alarming to feel the sudden onset of gallbladder pain. Typically lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 or 4 hours, the aching, gnawing pain may fluctuate or stay constant. Sufferers frequently feel nauseous during an attack but vomiting or moving bowels does not bring gallbladder pain relief.
Usually caused by a bile duct blockage, pain can radiate to surprising areas such as the mid back, chest or right shoulder blade. Because pain is felt in body areas other then the upper right abdomen where the gallbladder is located, panic sometimes sends people to the ER, convinced they are experiencing a heart attack.
If you find yourself having a gallbladder attack, don’t panic; there are a few quick and easy steps you can take at home to hep relieve pain quickly and provide ongoing gallstone treatment.
First, it’s helpful to understand why gallbladder disease occurs. The liver secretes bile which is a by-product of the body’s natural detoxification and contains elements crucial for digestion of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Bile travels from the liver to the gallbladder situated just underneath where it is concentrated and released selectively to digest meals containing fat.
If the ingredients of cholesterol, bile salts and pigment become imbalanced, hardened deposits may form into stones ranging in size. Gallstones themselves don’t cause pain and in fact, many people have gallstones without realizing it, but occasionally one will shift into a bile duct and cause a painful blockage.
Many small stones can pass on their own but sometimes the body doesn’t unblock them naturally and pressure builds. The small neck of the gallbladder will spasm and become inflamed with a prolonged blockage and thickened bile can also create difficult to move sludge.
Many doctors will quickly recommend removal surgery for gallbladder pain relief but there are safe, natural and effective methods that can also help resolve both pain and the stones that cause it.
First, at the onset of an attack, try sipping freshly squeezed lemon juice. This remedy has long been recommended for instant gallbladder pain relief because it increases bile production and may help to soften gallstones. Sipping lemon juice will usually bring relief within 15 minutes.
Another sour but effective gallstone treatment remedy is apple cider vinegar. Much like lemon juice, sipping a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar dissolved in a large glass of water helps to break down stones and flush the gallbladder with healthy bile flow. On a daily basis, drinking apple cider vinegar is said to prevent gallstone formation and soften existing stones for removal.
Try application of hot water bottles or a heating pad applied over the gallbladder on the upper right abdomen. Heat can soothe muscle spasms and inflammatory pain. Try 15-30 minutes application with a break to walk around, reposition and apply again.
