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When pregnant, your body experiences vast musculoskeletal and hormonal adjustments that may lead to pain in your shoulders. Hormones such as relaxin, which facilitate your body’s preparation for childbirth by relaxing ligaments and joints, also destabilize joints in your entire body, including your shoulder pain. Joint laxity results, and your body strains muscles in an effort to stabilize.
As your stomach expands, your center of gravity shifts, and your posture is altered. You could end up forcing your chest to expand and come back, or you lean forward because of the weight of your growing belly, both of which will tense your shoulders and upper back muscles. Increased weight also makes your joints and muscles labor. Another big contributor is poor sleeping positions. With a growing belly, it is hard to get comfortable, and you will resort to unflattering sleeping positions that force your shoulders into a bad position.
You should be able to differentiate between these usual everyday explanations to more severe medical issues.
While shoulder pain can occur on either side, left shoulder pain during pregnancy can sometimes become a matter of special concern when it is acute or is severe. In most cases, the pain is not problematic, merely because you have changed the position in which you sleep or how you are positioning yourself. You’ll also discover that you’ll be leaning toward one side to accommodate your growing belly, which puts excessive strain on your left shoulder.
Yet another less common but more intense reason for referred pain to your left shoulder is trapped gas. As your uterus grows, it can press on your digestive tract and trap gas. This will create stabbing, crampy aches that can radiate over to your shoulder. In very rare and serious cases, sudden, stabbing left shoulder pain may be an indication of internal bleeding within the body, such as from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. You should get medical attention right away if you have severe, sudden left shoulder pain combined with other symptoms like dizziness, bleeding, or abdominal pain.
Shoulder Pain and Early Pregnancy
Even during the first trimester, before your tummy starts showing, changes in hormones can lead to shoulder pain. Your body is undergoing a complete makeover, and some of those early changes can sometimes lead to muscle ache and joint stiffness. The increased blood volume and water retention also have a tendency to cause some joints to ache.
Whereas this initial discomfort is typically acceptable, it’s always best to note the difference between a light ache and an unexpected, concerning pain. Mild, spasmodic shoulder pain is usually not a cause for concern. It can come and go or be associated with your sleeping position. But intense, quick pain, which comes on suddenly, should never be overlooked, particularly when you are a new expectant mother and experience other warning signs.
Shoulder Pain and Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening but rare situation when the egg, having been fertilized, implants somewhere other than in the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. As the embryo develops, it can rupture the tube with subsequent bleeding into the abdominal cavity. Shoulder pain is the stereotypical, though not always present, symptom of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
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This is referred pain, where the pain is felt at a location other than where the problem starts. When your ruptured fallopian tube bleeds, the blood inside can irritate a big nerve called the phrenic nerve, which is located inside your diaphragm. The phrenic nerve also branches out to nerves that go as far as your shoulder, and so pain is felt there.
This kind of pain is often an acute, stabbing, and sharp pain in the shoulder tip, typically aggravated by lying down. It is often also associated with various other symptoms like severe pelvic or stomach pain, dizziness, fainting, and bleeding from the vagina. If you observe these symptoms, particularly in the first trimester, you must seek immediate medical care.
Other Possible Causes of Shoulder Pain During Pregnancy
Aside from the usual suspects, several other conditions can lead to or contribute to shoulder pain during pregnancy. Acid reflux (GERD) is one of the most frequent. With your expanding uterus compressing your stomach, acid flows back up into your esophagus, causing pain in your chest that can extend to your shoulders. Gallbladder disease, including gallstones, also occurs more frequently during pregnancy as a result of hormonal fluctuations. The discomfort of a gallbladder attack is felt in the upper abdomen and will also on occasion radiate to the right shoulder.
At times, trapped gas can also generate stabbing pains which are felt in the chest and shoulder. Tension and stress are also big offenders. Physical and emotional tension during pregnancy can cause kinks in the muscles and tension in the shoulders and neck, creating a constant dull ache. Having lots of water and resting to stretch out and relax are key.
Can Emergency Contraceptives Affect Your Cycle?
Some people may be concerned with whether or not a period is late due to pregnancy or the effects of an emergency contraceptive like Plan B. While this is not so much so concerning concerning shoulder pain, having an idea of how Plan B works can help alleviate worry and know-how. Plan B works primarily by preventing or inhibiting ovulation. Thus, it may cause changes to your menstrual cycle, and yes, it may cause your period to be late.
After taking Plan B, it’s common to experience irregular bleeding, spotting, or a period that comes a few days earlier or later than expected. This is due to the high dose of hormones in the pill disrupting your normal cycle. These effects are usually temporary, and your cycle should return to normal the following month. The delay of a period after taking Plan B is not the same as a pregnancy symptom. If your period is more than a week late, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test to be sure.
When to See a Doctor About Shoulder Pain in Pregnancy
While the majority of shoulder pain experienced during pregnancy is nothing to worry about, there are a few red flags and warning signs you should report to your doctor or call the emergency room. Call your doctor or report immediately to the emergency room if you experience:
- Severe, sharp, or sudden pain, especially in the left shoulder.
- Shoulder pain with vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or dizziness and fainting.
- Fever or evidence of infection.
- Pain that is not eased by rest or home treatment.
Such symptoms, particularly in the first trimester, could be a warning sign for an ectopic pregnancy or other serious disease. If unsure, always best to err on the safe side and take a doctor’s expert opinion.
Safe Ways to Relieve Shoulder Pain During Pregnancy
The vast majority of shoulder pain can be self-treated safely from home. The key thing is to correct your posture. Be aware of how you’re sitting and standing, and use a pregnancy support belt to help take some strain off your shoulders and back. Sleeping with a supportive pregnancy pillow at night will do wonders by keeping your spine correctly aligned and not letting you sleep in an awkward position.
Stretching and gentle exercise can also bring relief. Gentle rolls of the neck, shoulder shrugs, and cat-cow stretches are safe for most pregnant women and will release tension. Warm baths or a warm compress will relax sore muscles, and a gentle massage will relax knots and tension. Always speak with your doctor first before trying new exercise or medical procedures.
Prevention Tips for Shoulder Pain
Prevention of shoulder pain starts with taking a few easy lifestyle precautions. Maintain good posture with your back straight all day, both at the desk and in the checkout line at the store. Stand up and take regular walks to get up, walk around, and stretch. Stay well-hydrated with water, since dehydration is an initiator of muscle cramping. Engage in light, frequent exercise like walking or prenatal yoga to tone your shoulder and back muscles so they are less prone to straining.
When sitting, keep your back properly supported and could even place a pillow or rolled towel behind your lower curve of your back for additional support. At night, use pillows for support to your protruding belly and keep your spine properly aligned, thus reducing strain on your shoulders.
Conclusion
Although sore shoulders might be an annoying side effect of pregnancy, keep in mind that most explanations are harmless and easy to handle. Ranging from hormonal fluctuations and shifting gait to sleep deprivation, your body is adjusting in astounding ways. Still, it’s essential to be your own health advocate and realize the distinction between normal discomfort and disturbing agony.
Always pay attention to your body and beware of red flag symptoms like unexpected, severe pain, bleeding, or dizziness. Ectopic pregnancy and other conditions must be diagnosed and treated on time. Paying attention to your body, open dialogue with your provider, and appropriate relief techniques can help you ride through your pregnancy with greater comfort and peace of mind.
