Bad position, tension, shock… It is common to feel discomfort or temporary pain in the shoulders and back without worrying about it. But if the pain persists, particularly in the right shoulder, and increases, be vigilant! In some cases, this may indicate a liver problem or even cancer. Explanations.
The right shoulder, surprising center of several hepatic tensions
Among the first signs that may suggest liver cancer, we find fatigue, loss of appetite or even nausea. But shoulder pain is also a sign that recurs frequently. This pain would be caused by irritation of the phrenic nerve which passes through the right shoulder, and which is directly connected to the liver.
“Pain in the right shoulder can be linked to liver or biliary pathologies. This is called ‘referred’ pain” confirms Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical. As such, several pathologies can manifest via the shoulder or back.
- Conditions of the liver or gallbladder, such as inflammation (acute cholecystitis, etc.) can cause pain in the right shoulder and neck;
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Liver cancer can also cause pain radiating to the right shoulder, accompanied by symptoms such as jaundice, ascites, loss of appetite and fatigue;
- Liver diseases, such as liver failure or cholestasis, can cause general symptoms (fatigue, weakness) and abdominal pain that may also refer to the shoulder.
“The sign of pain referred from the gallbladder to the right shoulder is called Murphy’s sign. This phenomenon is linked to irritation of the visceral nerves which causes pain referred to the right shoulder, often in cases of hepatic colic or inflammation of the gallbladder” completes our expert.
Do you have shoulder pain? Get your liver checked!
So what should you do if you feel persistent pain in your right shoulder? The doctor indicates standard treatment:
“If the pain is associated with digestive or hepatic symptoms (jaundice, nausea), a thorough medical assessment is necessary to identify a possible visceral pathology. If there is any doubt about a hepatic or biliary origin, a specialist consultation will be recommended with ultrasound or abdominal CT.”
And if nothing is related to your liver, there will always be time to move on to massages.