Gallbladder Pain & Biliary Colic

Gallbladder pain is also referred to as gallbladder colic or as biliary colic.

It can be a low-grade, lingering pain that can just be considered tenderness under the rib cage on the right side.

It can also manifest as a sharp pain in the right shoulder or between shoulder blades, or as a feeling of pressure or fullness in the midsection just below the sternum.

Gallbladder Pain

Some report their gallbladder pain can be aggravated by bloating and constipation.

Biliary colic can also be a full-on gallbladder attack with an excruciating, stabbing pain that doubles you over and mimics the feeling of a heart attack. This sharp pain can last between 15 minutes to 4 hours and possibly up to 24 hours! Read more: Symptoms of a Gallbladder Attack.

Please seek medical attention immediately if your pain is severe and particularly if you have fever and/or chills.

Causes of Gallbladder Pain

No matter what kind of gallbladder pain you may be feeling, it is never good to feel out of your element. If you have consulted a medical practitioner, you may find out that the cause of pain could be one of the following:

  • a stuck gallstone
  • a low-functioning gallbladder that can't eject enough bile
  • a Sphincter of Oddi disorder (SOD) preventing bile flow
  • an inflamed gallbladder
  • pain from scar tissue

Regardless of the diagnosis, all these conditions prevent the proper flow of bile, which causes stagnation. In Chinese medicine there is a saying that where there is stagnation, there is pain; where there is no stagnation, there is no pain. Having said that, in everything that we suggest in order to support your gallbladder, the chief aim will ultimately be to normalize bile flow:

  • thin and move bile
  • reduce the toxicity of the bile acids
  • reduce inflammation
  • relax - muscles and sphincter as well as the mind

 

Where Do I Start?

The place we suggest you start is with the aptly-named, Gallbladder Starter Kit. It is made up of several natural supplements that work together to help support your gallbladder health and your digestion. These supplements work best when coupled with following the recommendations on the Gallbladder Foods to Avoid, a list that will be your guide for the next several weeks or longer. It is my opinion and my experience that You need BOTH dietary changes and concentrated gallbladder supplements to get the quickest, most effective, and long-lasting support.

If you are worried about gallbladder pains, even if they are minor discomfort, listen to the "All About Gallbladder Disease" and read more on this website to educate yourself. Understand what's going on, where it came from and what your choices are now that you're here.

If you want personalized advice and professional opinion about your specific condition, please consider a personal consultation.