Why the sore shoulder??

Hi Realme,
Sorry everyone I know this has gone off topic, but my first labour was drug free and that was my second so was incredible pain relief compared to the first. My third labour I had a partial epidural block and didn't like not being able to feel what was happening with my body.
steph

I had the shoulder pain but I get it every time I've had surgery in the abdomen where they fill the area full of lovely CO2 gas. Heat packs work a treat. I took a wheat bag that I bought from the chemist in, I just asked the nurse to heat it up in the microwave for a minute (instructions on the label) and it was FANTASTIC!! I draped it over both shoulders and it was lovely.

I actually thought the shoulder pain was worse than the teeny cuts from the op which were just a bit sore. So don't freak out people, it doesn't happen to everyone but heat from a pack or a shower are worth a try if it happens to you and if it happens its normal and it will go away as soon as the gas makes it way out of your body, which was when I started doing laps of the ward on about day 2 or 3.

I actually used a hot shower as pain relief right through my labour with my daughter until I was fully dilated. It worked better than drugs.

Hey ssteph2342, I dont know about that! I took baths, showers what ever I could to alleviate the pain and NOTHING helped as good as an epidural! I guess Im just a woos when it comes to labour pain hehe

Applesauce, it's not really strange that a hot shower would help with gall bladder pain when you think about it. I actually used a hot shower as pain relief right through my labour with my daughter until I was fully dilated. It worked better than drugs.

you shouldnt use voltaran. i suggested dencorub only IF you wanted a heat producing rub because some find heat can be soothing hence, heat packs.

strange as it seems a hot shower with the water on you shoulders or upper back works well for gallbladder pain as well. hot showers can relax muscles and reduce pain. you know how much worse pain feels when your muscles are all ridged and clenched. Heat doesmt remove pain it juat relaxes tense muscles making the pain feel less sharp.

applesauce

It just seemed to work for me, you yourself rub it, but then again I am not sure it even helped but it soon went away in just 2 days.

Don't understand why you would use Voltaren or Dencorub as they are both for muscle pain and this is not strained muscle but gas which just needs to leave the body.

If you are diabetic or have heart or blood pressue issues do NOT use voltaran without talking to you doctor first, choose something like dencorub.

applesauce

The reason I suggested massage was because it eases the gas out of your body naturally.
It genuinely worked for me. My guy was happy to massage it for me.

I did have a sore shoulder also, what I used was Voltaren Emulgel but it only worked for maybe 5min. But try not to use it too much as your pain will get use to the cream, and will not give any effect.

Rub into the affected area 3 or 4 times daily, or every 3 hrs. Do not use the cream for more than 2 weeks, except you ask the Dr when to cease this.

My shoulder pain only lasted 2 or 3 days. They bloat you with gas during the surgery, and its the after affect so try not to worry too much!

Massage of the area definitely helps.

Thanks everyone !!

xo

Hi Mandy...

Either the surgeon or the anaethetist explained to me that shoulder pain can result because the gas they pump in during surgery can affect the shoulder nerves, irritating them and if so that the pain will take a couple/some weeks before it disappears. I was lucky not to have the problem, I know many others have.

Hope that helps...

S

I had a tiny bit of shoulder pain but nothing worth complaining about. It was very mild and didn't last very long

it is a refered pain this means the gas in your stomach puts pressure on a nerve under your diafram. this results in pain being felt in the shoulder and or neck.

it doesnt always happen even if you have had it before it doesnt mean you will ever get it again.

massage and heat packs help so does lying totally flat and walking around. sitting agrivates it for most people.

applesauce

Hi Mandy,
I dont understand why but the shoulder pain is very common after any abdominal/stomach surgeryand It is something to do with the gas that they use to inflate your abdomen.My shoulder pain was actually extremely bad (only the one shoulder) and lasted for about 4 weeks. I actually had mild shoulder pain on the same side for some months before surgery and it was discovered during my sleeving that I had a huge hiatus hernia that was the cause of it. I was told it was a kind of referred pain and that patients with lung problems often get shoulder pain also.In saying that I had the hernia reapaired but still find that I get a bit of shoulder pain if i eat too much.

Hi everyone,

This forum is fantastic.
I have a question, I have read in a few places about having shoulder pain after the surgery? Is this to do with gas? Can some one explain why please?

Regards

mandy4848