The liver is one of those organs we rarely think about—until something goes wrong. It quietly performs over 500 vital functions, filtering toxins, producing bile, storing nutrients, and regulating metabolism. It's the body's chemical processing plant, working 24/7 without thanks or recognition.

But when the liver starts to struggle, it has ways of getting your attention. And one of the most common signals is pain.

Not always where you'd expect it. Not always obvious. But once you know what to look for, your body's messages become clear.

First, Where Is Your Liver?

Your liver sits in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen, just below your rib cage. It's a large organ—about the size of a football—and extends across the midline toward your left side.

When your liver is healthy, you generally can't feel it. But when it becomes inflamed, enlarged, or damaged, it can press against surrounding tissues and send pain signals that range from dull aches to sharp, stabbing sensations.

The Primary Pain Location: Upper Right Abdomen

The most direct signal of liver distress is pain or discomfort in the upper right portion of the abdomen, right where the liver lives.

What it might feel like:

A dull, aching sensation
A feeling of fullness or pressure under the ribs
Sharp, stabbing pain (less common, but possible)
Discomfort that worsens after eating, especially fatty meals

What causes it: When the liver becomes inflamed (hepatitis), enlarged (hepatomegaly), or develops fatty deposits, it stretches the capsule that surrounds it. This capsule is rich in nerve endings, and stretching it creates pain.