Is this pain muscular or ‘soreness’? - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Is this pain muscular or ‘soreness’?

Justaduck8 profile image
23 Replies

Hi

It’s my first post on here so I hope it’s OK to ask this question.

I’m a bit worried about having liver cancer, and was a bit surprised to read about the shoulder pain being something you might have as an early symptom of liver cancer as I have that sometimes, but I’ve never heard of this being a symptom of this disease. Is the pain they are talking about here a muscular type pain (which mine isn’t) or more of a kind of ‘stinging’ pain which mine is.

I’m adding the link that I read below so you can see what the piece said:

A swollen abdomen might cause discomfort or pain, and a loss of appetite or feeling full quickly. A swollen (enlarged) liver can cause pain in your right shoulder. This is because the enlarged liver stimulates nerves that connect to nerves in the shoulder.

Thanks if you can help with this.

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Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8
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23 Replies

Have a look at Short lived liver pain post. 2nd thread from Wass gives a guide.

Referred pain. I had it for a while it's moved to my right elbow. Stinging pain is a good way of explaining it. Think most of us with any liver condition gets it and other aches and pains in muscle & joint's. Something we have to bare.

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles

Hi justa

Welcome to this great forum 👍👍. Wow you are new.! Great stuff 👍

Ofeck is so right loads of us have/had shoulder pain, as well as pain on the right rib area.

Have you been diagnosed with liver cancer? There are several on here who have/had liver cancer - they can comment far more knowledgeably than me with specifics... Hopefully they’ll be here soon!

Hope you cope with whatever you have.

Good luck

Miles

🇧🇧

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8 in reply toThreeSmiles

ToThreeSmiles

I haven’t been diagnosed with liver cancer but I was reading about it and git frightened because of the stinging I’ve been having in my chest and the back of my shoulder.

From Justaduck8

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat

Hi Justaduck.

Pain in the shoulder can be caused by many things. Frozen shoulder, rotator cuff syndrome, a pinched spinal nerve to name but a few. Yes, a swollen and enlarged liver can cause this type of pain also.

The best thing to do if you are worried is to go and get it checked out.

Guessing causes stressing! Often unnecessarily too!

Wishing you all the best.

Alf.

in reply toalfredthegreat

You forget to mention the most important 'pain in the neck' ? 😜

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles in reply to

That’s a bit mean towards freddy....

.

.

.

🙂

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8 in reply toalfredthegreat

To alfredthegreat

Thank you for telling me that. The pain I have isn’t like a rotator cuff pain as I once had that when I played cricket as I was a bowler.

This pain is just a sort of stinging, but that doesn’tseem to be the pain that you’re all describing in your replies.

Would that be right?

Justaduck8

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply toJustaduck8

It's a difficult one to answer because no two people are the same.

There is a big chance that if you have had rotator cuff syndrome before then it could well be that but as with any new symptom it is really best to get it checked out.

The experts are the ones that will know, whereas with guessing at it the mind works overtime and you can imagine that you have all kind of ailments!

Make that appointment! :-) :-) :-)

All the best.

Alf

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8

I would just like to say thank you for all your replies.

From Justaduck8

Mama41 profile image
Mama41

Shoulder pain was my main symptom of liver cancer..it felt muscular but was in fact referred pain from the tumour in my liver..are you having any tests for liver cancer?

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8

To Mama 41

I am seeing my doctor tomorrow about the pains, but none of them are muscular. Did yours sting? That’s the kind of pain I have, but certainly

not muscular. I’m really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Could a possible tumour sting, do you think?

From Justaduck8

Mama41 profile image
Mama41 in reply toJustaduck8

Mine didnt sting but I cant say for sure. Like i said mine was muscular..unfortunately it wasnt picked up on but as soon as my tumour was removed the shoulder pain was gone.

Good luck at the Drs tomorrow.

Isabelle2 profile image
Isabelle2

Good luck 🦆

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8

To Isabelle2 and Mama41

Thank you for your replies, and for wishing me luck when I see my doctor. I’m hoping it’s not cancer going by what you said, but I’ll see what he says tomorrow. I don’t have any other symptoms of cancer, as I’m never very tired and I never have an loss of appetite and I’m not losing weight, so I hope I’ll be OK, but it seems to be the shoulder pain that’s the biggest sign, going by what they said on the website I was looking at today.

From Justaduck8

Mama41 profile image
Mama41 in reply toJustaduck8

Sore shoulder could be a sign of anything. You may have just pulled a muscle or slept funny etc..

Do you have reason to be concerned about having liver cancer?

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8 in reply toMama41

To Mama41

No, it’s not a pulled muscle, it just stings. That’s what the problem is, and I’m just worried because of what I read about the first sign of liver cancer being a pain in your top front of your chest and the back of your shoulder.

From Justaduck8

Mama41 profile image
Mama41 in reply toJustaduck8

How did you get on today?

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8 in reply toMama41

To Mama41

Events occurred that stopped me going as I had to cancel through no fault of my own. I have rebooked an appointment for the end of next week, and I also have an appointment at a Hepatology clinic, too.

It was good of you to remember me, thank you.

From Justaduck8

Mama41 profile image
Mama41 in reply toJustaduck8

You're welcome. Let us know how you get on next week xx

Hi

I don't think I can add anything else but just to say I'm thinking of you and

Yes, make that appointment, it will put your mind at rest. Please take care of yourself Lynne

Justaduck8 profile image
Justaduck8 in reply to

To Oldham12

I think this is one you’re meant to reply on, so thank you for wishing me well.

From Justaduck8

Hi Justaduck8 and welcome to our forum

There are many causes of shoulder pain. Hopefully the GP can phyiscally examine you tomorrow and you will have a clearer plan of how to proceed.

Keep us posted

Best wishes

Trust1

B3nnen2015 profile image
B3nnen2015

I have right shoulder pain because of a swolen liver..

Currently trying to get the inflammation down.

My theead is below

healthunlocked.com/britishl...

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