What are possible gastric and intestinal diseases that can cause referred pain to the shoulder?

Doctor's Answers 1

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Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

In general, referred pain to the shoulder is a result of irritation to the diaphragm. A typical example of such irritation is inflammation of the liver or gallbladder. This unique way of presentation is due to the common innervation of the skin around the shoulder and the diaphragm. This common pathway for pain signal confuses our brain which indicates to us the problem coming from the shoulder when it actually originates from the abdomen.

At times, pain around the chest and shoulder may also come from significant gastric reflux. This discomfort can be difficult to pinpoint and may be perceived over a large area around the upper body including the chest, neck and shoulder.

Shoulder pain not related to the digestive tract may come from the cervical spine. Such pain may also couple with numbness over the shoulder and the upper limb. At times, one may also experience weakness due to significant nerve compression.

Similar Questions

What kind of diet is recommended for patients with gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach rhythmic peristaltic movement slows down significantly. This can be due to many reasons and is commonly seen after surgery and during severe systemic infections. At times, electrolyte imbalances or side effect from medicine may also cause gastroparesis. The end result may be bloating, nausea and vomiting similar to that of a gastric outlet obstruction. Treatment of gastroparesis starts with excluding a structural obstruction and identifying the most likely underlying cause and administer the respective treatment.

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Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

How can I manage chronic gastritis with cell changes on stomach lining, and partial recovery after 6 months of PPIs?

Based on what I understand from your question, I think you are referring to the term "intestinal metaplasia" which is the presence of normal intestinal cells in your stomach lining. This is a condition most gastroenterologists consider a point of no return in terms of the potential risk of developing gastric cancer. Intestinal metaplasia itself is not cancerous and finding normal intestinal cells in the stomach is not unusual either. This is different from "dysplasia" which can be interpreted as suspicious looking cell change and deemed slightly more serious.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan

Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

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