What Causes Burning Sensation In My Torso Area Around My Liver And Spleen?

Posted on Fri, 10 Apr 2015

Question: Hi I have burning sensation in my torso area around my liver and spleen on both sides of my body it feels like my internal organs are inflammed, and this is happening at night it wakes me up out my sleep. My back get so hot until I had to put a wet towel on it. My doctor is saying that it's hot flashes but I don't think it is. I am 61 years old and have gone through menapause about 12 years ago. The burning around my organs are scary, I've had a MRI without contrast but nothing was said about my pancreas, spleen or liver just a cyst on my liver. Would this be suffecient or should I have futher testing due to the symptoms.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
consider neuralgia

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Sorry about the late reply.

It is understandable to be concerned. If the MRI abdomen did not mention the structure of the internal organs and whether there are any changes in these organs then repeat imaging may be needed.

It is possible that the burning sensation is related to neuralgia. Neuralgia refers to nerve related pain.It may be temporary or permanent.

There are different possible causes such as: (1) vitamin b12 or folate deficiency

(2)diabetes
(3)infections such as shingles
(4)trauma
(5)exposure to toxins
(6)liver or kidney disease which can be detected by blood tests such as liver function tests or creatinine
(7)neurological diseases such as MS, stroke
(8)idiopathic- cause not known
(9)side effect of medication
(10) some hormonal diseases such as thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions such as lupus

IF you do have repeat imaging and they are no structural changes then you may want to consider blood tests to check kidney and liver function, vitamin b12 and folate levels and also to check for inflammation ( this would be an ESR or c reactive protein level) .

There are medications that can help with neuralgia if this is the cause.

Eg lyrica, gabapentin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, tegretol

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (44 minutes later)

I was diagnose with b12 defeincy but this problem seems to occur at night it wakes me up out of my sleep, I had fish for dinner last night and the burning pain was unbearable last night specifically in my left arm and shoulder, around my back. I was tested for lupus so that was negative I had a mercury filling removed a few months ago could this be the cause of it? My tooth broke with a large mercury filling in it, and that started the beginning of the burning pain in my torso.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
if having facial symptoms

Detailed Answer:
HI

There is a possible link between mercury fillings and trigeminal neuralgia which is tingling and abnormal nerves sensations in the face, not normally felt in other areas of the body when dealing specifically with fillings.

If you experience symptoms in the face as well, it may be related to the mercury.
Mercury levels can be done to check to see what they are.

If the vit b12 deficiency is significant then it may be a factor.

You can consider asking for one of the meds for nerve related pain for a trial to see if there is improvement of symptoms. If there is even a minimal change , it may confirm that your pain is neuropathic (nerve related)

If anything else unclear , then you can let me know

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar