Severe left shoulder pain

[Losebig 508]

Anyone have severe left shoulder pain (top of the shoulder where it meets the neck feels like someone is pinching as hard as possible). I'm 2 weeks out tomorrow and while I had the pain slightly in both shoulders after surgery it's now much worse (crippling in fact) and only on the left side. It gets worse if I eat or drink and f I have a food that doesn't agree with me, or eat too fast it becomes so bad that I can't move that arm. Guessing it's referred pain from the sleeve or Hernia repair - going to DR in a couple days, but wanted to see if others are experiencing it. Everything else is fine. Thanks

[timarland 35]

My surgeon told me this is exactly how he was able to catch a leak in another patient - referred pain from the leak was causing the pain, no other symptoms.

[EagerPenguin 159]

I didn't have anything like that. Definitely call your surgeon. While it could be nothing, it also could be "something".

[froufrou 678]

This was one of my symptoms of a leak. I also had a rapid heartbeat, temp over 100 and found it hard to breathe. I would honestly say you should get checked out to be on the safe side. Leaks caught early are best.

[Creekimp13 5,838]

I had miserable shoulder pain after surgery. The pain in my belly made me sleep quite differently....and when you're on pain meds, you can sleep on your neck wrong and not realize it, and end up with a hell of a pinched nerve in the morning.

Watch for rapid heart rate and elevated temp....both could indicate a leak. Take this possibility seriously.

If your temp and heart rate are ok...Try walking, moving your body, doing gentle neck and arm stretches...and see if that doesn't help. Topical heat or massage might help, too, if it is a pinched nerve from sleeping wrong.

[sunshinetinks 258]

Anyone have severe left shoulder pain (top of the shoulder where it meets the neck feels like someone is pinching as hard as possible). I'm 2 weeks out tomorrow and while I had the pain slightly in both shoulders after surgery it's now much worse (crippling in fact) and only on the left side. It gets worse if I eat or drink and f I have a food that doesn't agree with me, or eat too fast it becomes so bad that I can't move that arm. Guessing it's referred pain from the sleeve or Hernia repair - going to DR in a couple days, but wanted to see if others are experiencing it. Everything else is fine. Thanks

Please call your surgeon or go to hospital..if it's crippling pain it maybe something serious.


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[Losebig 508]

Thanks everyone. I reverted my diet to just liquids most of the day today and didn't have the pain. I see the DR tomorrow so will see what they have to say. I don't have any other symptoms and due to an earlier issue had a CT scan to look for a leak last week, which was clear (though they don't always catch them). I've had a lot more than average pain through this whole thing, though much of it is from the hernia repair..

[Losebig 508]

Just to close the loop in case it helps someone in the future... Dr said it was extremely common and referred pain from the hernia repair. One key thing seemed to be that it was clearly worse or better based on eating or drinking. It's much better now and just mildly sore. Glad I saw the dr though!

[Creekimp13 5,838]

Thanks for posting that, Losebig, that's interesting! I had a hernia repair, too...so maybe it wasn't sleeping on my neck wrong at all...though, weirdly, the gentle stretched did seem to help me quite a lot? Mine improved rapidly, so I didn't think much of it. I appreciate the info!

Glad you're feeling better:)