Aa
What is All this Spreading Pain?
About a year ago I had surgery for an inguinal hernia on my right side. Ever since that surgery, I have been in tremendous pain.
I have had severe back and shoulder pain since that surgery. After a HIDA scan (and a number of other tests) it was determined that my gallbladder had an EF of 21%, and needed to be removed. I never had gallbladder symptoms prior to that surgery.
I am skeptical as to whether my back/shoulder pain are caused by my gallbladder, as they are not really in between my shoulder blades, but rather a very stabbing pain at the top of my rotator cuff that goes from my collar bone into my neck.
Lately, in the past three weeks, the pain has spread, though, and intensified. I have started getting severe headaches on my right side of my head... below, behind, and above my right ear. My doctor prescribed me amoxacillin for a sinus infection, but that had no effect on the pain (although apparently it cleared up an infection she saw in my ear).
Now, about 5 or 6 times a day, I get a stabbing pain in one or all three of those locations. It is often accompanied with my shoulder pain and collarbone pain (right side, right above the collar bone by the neck).
I have been tested for, but found negative results for thyroid disease, liver function, kidney function, etc. The only symptoms I have are pain and a fair amount of indigestion (occasional black stools, nausea, GERD). An EGD I had cleared me of upper-intestinal problems, however.
The pain, especially in my head now, is crippling and terrifying. I have an appointment with an ENT coming up, but is there more I should do? How can I manage the pain in the meantime? I have taken a number of decongestants and way too many NSAIDs, but they don't work very well.
I have had severe back and shoulder pain since that surgery. After a HIDA scan (and a number of other tests) it was determined that my gallbladder had an EF of 21%, and needed to be removed. I never had gallbladder symptoms prior to that surgery.
I am skeptical as to whether my back/shoulder pain are caused by my gallbladder, as they are not really in between my shoulder blades, but rather a very stabbing pain at the top of my rotator cuff that goes from my collar bone into my neck.
Lately, in the past three weeks, the pain has spread, though, and intensified. I have started getting severe headaches on my right side of my head... below, behind, and above my right ear. My doctor prescribed me amoxacillin for a sinus infection, but that had no effect on the pain (although apparently it cleared up an infection she saw in my ear).
Now, about 5 or 6 times a day, I get a stabbing pain in one or all three of those locations. It is often accompanied with my shoulder pain and collarbone pain (right side, right above the collar bone by the neck).
I have been tested for, but found negative results for thyroid disease, liver function, kidney function, etc. The only symptoms I have are pain and a fair amount of indigestion (occasional black stools, nausea, GERD). An EGD I had cleared me of upper-intestinal problems, however.
The pain, especially in my head now, is crippling and terrifying. I have an appointment with an ENT coming up, but is there more I should do? How can I manage the pain in the meantime? I have taken a number of decongestants and way too many NSAIDs, but they don't work very well.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
You must first of all get your blood pressure checked. Other than that pain in head, neck, shoulder and collar bone can be due to TMJ with involvement of sterocleidomastoid muscle. It can also be a pinched nerve in the cervical spine.
Gall bladder problems like stones and infections can also cause stabbing pain in shoulder area and hence a CT scan of abdomen should also be done.
A shoulder affliction like rotator cuff injury, bursitis etc is also a possibility but all this will cause restriction of movement of shoulder joint.
Discuss these options with your treating doctor as a confirmed diagnosis cannot be given on net. Take care!
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
You must first of all get your blood pressure checked. Other than that pain in head, neck, shoulder and collar bone can be due to TMJ with involvement of sterocleidomastoid muscle. It can also be a pinched nerve in the cervical spine.
Gall bladder problems like stones and infections can also cause stabbing pain in shoulder area and hence a CT scan of abdomen should also be done.
A shoulder affliction like rotator cuff injury, bursitis etc is also a possibility but all this will cause restriction of movement of shoulder joint.
Discuss these options with your treating doctor as a confirmed diagnosis cannot be given on net. Take care!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
