1.The link between the gall bladder and right shoulder and the neck is through the Phrenic nerve. This type of pain is called referred pain as the source of the pain is diο¬erent from where the pain is experienced.The phrenic nerve runs through the abdomen, goes through the chest and then the neck. So, whenever the gall bladder is swollen and inflamed due to various factors , there is referred pain in the right shoulder blade including the neck. This pain symptom has been a common sign of some chronic gall bladder issues which should not be neglected.
2. Like other abdominal organs, the gall bladder is supplied by the celiac plexus. The nerves from the gall bladder as well as diaphragm converges at the cervical vertebrae C3-C5 of the spinal cord. Therefore, if there is any issue in either the gallbladder or diaphragm can cause pain in the neck and right shoulder blade (scapula).
3. Inflammation in gallbladder, cholecystitis, biliary sludge, gallstones, cancer or tumour in the gallbladder can cause referred pain in the right shoulder region and neck due to the above mentioned shared nerve pathways. Other than the pain in these regions, there can be other symptoms to confirm like nausea, vomiting, fever and jaundice which can indicate problems in the gall bladder.
4. It is not always that neck and right shoulder pain is linked to liver and gall bladder issues. There are still many reasons for causing neck and right shoulder pain which may not be related to gallbladder. Some of the common causes can be:
β’ Inadequate sleeping posture like sleeping in the stomach or with a wrong pillow position.
β’ Wear and tear of nerves and vertebrae or discs.
β’ Poor sitting posture at work desk, in front of the computer.
β’ Whiplash.
β’ Cervical spondylosis or osteoarthritis.
β’ Carrying heavy objects causing strain and tension in the neck muscles.
β’ Stress and anxiety due to physical and mental strain.
5. Cardiac issues like stable angina where the heart does not receive enough blood can cause neck and right shoulder pain. When the heart muscles remain hypoxic, it can send signals to the spinal cord, causing a dull aching pain in the neck and right shoulder. In such cases, there are other symptoms which can accompany like sweating, nausea and shortness of breath which can help to diagnose the condition.
6. Gall bladder is located on the right side of the abdomen and responsible for secretion of bile for fat digestion and connected to the liver by the hepatocystic duct. As mentioned already, gall bladder is inflamed due to cholecystitis, gall stones, bile sludge and cancer. The symptoms can be vague and indicate a referred pain in right shoulder blade which can change later to a steady pain in the right abdomen. Therefore, it is important to visit a surgeon to rule out the diagnosis and further complications.
7. Gallstones are formed when bile is accumulated forming a mass which can be of varied sizes even upto a ping pong ball. When gall stones are formed, they can block the pessage of bile flow from the gall bladder which causes the organ to be inflamed and swollen. This in turn irritates the phrenic nerve which results in a dull aching pain on the neck and right shoulder blade as the nerve runs through these regions.
8. People who are risk of gall stones can be :
β’ Diabetic
β’ Obesity
β’ Woman are more prone
β’ Lost weight rapidly
β’ Fasting
β’ Aging , mostly over 60
β’ Cholesterol lowering drugs.
9. Diagnosis of neck and right shoulder pain is examined by performing the physical examination and medical history and tests:
β’ Medical history to rule out other associated symptoms, injuries.
β’ Physical examination of tenderness, rigidity, abnormality, movement of neck and shoulder including abdominal examination for causes like inflamed gallbladder.
β’ Imaging tests like ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan
β’ Blood tests for inflammation and infections
β’ ECG to rule out cardiac causes like angina or heart attack.
10. Management of right shoulder and neck pain depends on the underlying root cause:
β’ Neck and shoulder stretches to ease the stiffness when there is no underlying cause and sign of referred pain.
β’ Pain medication and chiropractic care.
β’ Cervical laminectomy or shoulder replacement.
β’ In case of underlying causes like inflammation or infection of gallbladder, cholecystitis, gall stones, depending upon the severity, either conservative methods or surgical option is required.
Thanks for reading.
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3H:health,happiness,healing 