Why does ectopic pregnancy cause shoulder pain

Shoulder Pain in Pregnancy: Ectopic or Normal?

If you’re pregnant you know that all the new, exciting changes in your body come with a few hiccups. Some of these include being tired a lot of the time and feeling aches, butterflies, and tingles in your belly and back.

Pregnancy can also cause pain in parts of the body that seem pretty far removed from where all the action is taking place. You might be surprised to learn that your new shoulder pain may be directly linked to your pregnancy.

Shoulder pain (like other aches) can be normal in pregnancy. But, in some cases, shoulder pain — along with other symptoms — might be a sign that something’s not quite right. When in your pregnancy you have shoulder pain is important.

Here’s what to know and what to do if you have shoulder pain during pregnancy.

Shoulder pain during pregnancy can happen at any time, and for many reasons. Most of the time, it’s normal.

It happens due to changes to your muscles and joints. Causes can include straining your back, sleeping in a funny position, not having good posture, and standing for too long.

Typical (and non-worrisome) shoulder pain during pregnancy might feel like stiffness or achiness. It shouldn’t feel like severe or stabbing pain.

First trimester

Your body makes a hormone called relaxin even before you get pregnant. This hormone also has lots of different jobs from the beginning of pregnancy to the birth of your baby. Relaxin helps your body grow and change for your developing little one.

Essentially, relaxin does this by loosening your connective tissue, which can cause aches and pains in various places — including your shoulders.

Second trimester

As your baby grows, so does your body in order to nourish this new blossoming life. In the second trimester, your baby bump begins to show and your body shape and weight changes for a healthy pregnancy.

The changes in your body impact how you’re sleeping, sitting, standing and even walking. In fact, one small medical study found that those in their second trimester had a slower gait (walking speed) than people who weren’t pregnant.

This means that even though you may not look very pregnant yet, the changes in your body are affecting your muscles and how you carry yourself. This can lead to muscles aches, including shoulder pain.

Third trimester

In the third trimester, you obviously have lots of changes in your body as your little one gets ready to make their entrance. Your body adapts to carrying around a baby and a mini portable nursery in many ways — including literally curving your spine!

In the same 2015 study as above, researchers compared the spines of 19 pregnant women in their third trimester to women who weren’t pregnant. They found that the lumbar (lower end) of the spine in the pregnant women in their third trimester was more curved.

This means that your spine looks more like an “S” later in pregnancy to help handle the extra pounds of baby, food, blood, and more. The changes in your spine can lead to changes in your back and shoulder muscles. This may lead to normal shoulder pain and aches during pregnancy.

Also in the third trimester, relaxin continues to help relax your ligaments so that your pelvic bone joints can loosen up and open to better deliver your baby. Other joints in your body also loosen up, including your shoulder joints.

Relaxing the shoulder joint, along with changes to your posture, sleep position, how you walk, and everything else can lead to normal shoulder pain during the third trimester.

More serious causes of shoulder pain can happen at any time during your pregnancy, too. That’s why you should let your doctor know if you have shoulder pain or any other unusual symptoms.

First trimester

If you feel pain in your shoulder very early in your first trimester, the cause might be an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is when the embryo implant outside the uterus — usually in the Fallopian tube.

People with an ectopic pregnancy typically have symptoms between weeks 4 and 12 of pregnancy. You might have symptoms before you even know you’re pregnant or before you’ve seen your doctor.

An ectopic pregnancy may cause shoulder tip pain. This may feel like a sudden, strange pain just between your shoulder and arm.

This serious cause of shoulder pain in pregnancy actually happens because there is bleeding in the abdomen. This bleeding can’t be seen, but it can irritate the nerve responsible for the involuntary muscles that move the diaphragm.

In turn, the nerve transmits sensory information from the diaphragm and the shoulder region, creating the perception of pain — referred pain — in the shoulder.

You’ll likely have other symptoms along with the shoulder pain, like:

stomach pain
faintness
nausea or vomiting
vaginal bleeding
stomach bloating or fullness
pain during bowel movements
diarrhea
cramping or pain on one side

An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention.

Second and third trimesters

Gallstones

The hormones that help you get and stay pregnant can also cause side effects — including, in rare instances, gallstones. You might not know you have gallstones at all, but if a gallstone gets stuck in a duct or tube, it can cause serious symptoms.

Pain in your right shoulder during pregnancy might mean that you have gallstones. Other symptoms include:

nausea and vomiting
severe pain in your upper right abdomen that gets worse
sudden pain in the middle of your abdomen that gets worse
back pain between your shoulder blades

Pain from gallstones can last for minutes or even hours. In serious cases, you may have a high fever and even jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

You might need surgery to remove the gallstones if you have a serious blockage or other complications. But in most cases, gallstones can be treated with lifestyle changes, like:

eating regular meals
adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet
avoiding fried foods
avoiding sugary foods
avoiding simple carbs
getting light exercise every day

Preeclampsia

In the second or third trimester, shoulder pain may be one of the symptoms of preeclampsia. This serious condition happens when you have high blood pressure (hypertension) and other complications during pregnancy or after your delivery.

Symptoms usually happen after week 20 of pregnancy, but they can happen earlier. Aside from shoulder pain, other signs of preeclampsia include:

face swelling
swelling of the hands
headache pain
changes in vision
blurred vision or seeing spots
sensitivity to light
pain when breathing in deeply
pain in the upper abdomen
pain on the upper right side
nausea and vomiting
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Treatment for preeclampsia includes checking your blood pressure several times a day and seeing your doctor for regular checkups. You may need medication, a low-sodium diet, and bed rest to help control your blood pressure.

If your preeclampsia symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may recommend delivering your baby early. You’ll typically recover shortly after having your baby.

You should be able to treat standard pregnancy aches and pains — including shoulder pain — with a few tips and tricks. You should feel better with:

stretches
massages — just try to see a practitioner who’s knowledgeable about pregnancy
a warm (not hot) bath
warm or cold compresses
posture support
sleeping support pillow — here are some good options

Ask your doctor about which pain medication is safe during pregnancy and right for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is normally OK to take occasionally.

For more serious causes of shoulder pain — ectopic, gallstones, and preeclampsia — you’ll need more specific medical treatment from your doctor.

Always reach out to your doctor if you have any unusual, new, or strange symptoms during pregnancy — including severe shoulder pain or pain that doesn’t get better.

Call your doctor and get urgent medical care if you think you might have an ectopic pregnancy or if you feel any kind of severe, sharp pain. You may need emergency treatment or even surgery to help prevent harmful complications from an ectopic pregnancy.

Call your doctor right away if you have nausea and vomiting or other symptoms of preeclampsia during your second or third trimester.

You won’t be able to prevent most aches and pains during pregnancy. Occasional shoulder pain is a normal part of pregnancy.

But you may be able to help prevent serious complications like preeclampsia. Talk to your doctor about the best ways for you to control your blood pressure during pregnancy.

Tips to balance your blood pressure during pregnancy include:

drinking plenty of water every day
reducing salt in your diet
adding more protein to your diet
putting your feet up when you can
avoiding standing for too long
getting light exercise everyday
avoiding fast food
avoiding fried food

It’s not uncommon to have shoulder pain while you’re pregnant — and it can happen for several, mild reasons throughout your pregnancy.

There are a few rare causes of shoulder pain that can be harmful. These include an ectopic pregnancy early in the first trimester and preeclampsia during your second or third trimester.

Always check with your healthcare provider right away if you have sudden, strange, or severe pain. Tell your doctor about any symptoms that don’t feel “normal.” You know your body better than anyone else — even when pregnant!

Shoulder Pain in Pregnancy: Ectopic or Normal?

Here’s what to know and what to do if you have shoulder pain during pregnancy.

Shoulder pain during pregnancy can happen at any time, and for many reasons. Most of the time, it’s normal.

It happens due to changes to your muscles and joints. Causes can include straining your back, sleeping in a funny position, not having good posture, and standing for too long.

Typical (and non-worrisome) shoulder pain during pregnancy might feel like stiffness or achiness. It shouldn’t feel like severe or stabbing pain.

First trimester

Essentially, relaxin does this by loosening your connective tissue, which can cause aches and pains in various places — including your shoulders.

Second trimester

Third trimester

Relaxing the shoulder joint, along with changes to your posture, sleep position, how you walk, and everything else can lead to normal shoulder pain during the third trimester.

More serious causes of shoulder pain can happen at any time during your pregnancy, too. That’s why you should let your doctor know if you have shoulder pain or any other unusual symptoms.

First trimester

People with an ectopic pregnancy typically have symptoms between weeks 4 and 12 of pregnancy. You might have symptoms before you even know you’re pregnant or before you’ve seen your doctor.

An ectopic pregnancy may cause shoulder tip pain. This may feel like a sudden, strange pain just between your shoulder and arm.

In turn, the nerve transmits sensory information from the diaphragm and the shoulder region, creating the perception of pain — referred pain — in the shoulder.

You’ll likely have other symptoms along with the shoulder pain, like:

stomach pain
faintness
nausea or vomiting
vaginal bleeding
stomach bloating or fullness
pain during bowel movements
diarrhea
cramping or pain on one side

An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention.

Second and third trimesters

Gallstones

Pain in your right shoulder during pregnancy might mean that you have gallstones. Other symptoms include:

nausea and vomiting
severe pain in your upper right abdomen that gets worse
sudden pain in the middle of your abdomen that gets worse
back pain between your shoulder blades

Pain from gallstones can last for minutes or even hours. In serious cases, you may have a high fever and even jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

You might need surgery to remove the gallstones if you have a serious blockage or other complications. But in most cases, gallstones can be treated with lifestyle changes, like:

eating regular meals
adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet
avoiding fried foods
avoiding sugary foods
avoiding simple carbs
getting light exercise every day

Preeclampsia

Symptoms usually happen after week 20 of pregnancy, but they can happen earlier. Aside from shoulder pain, other signs of preeclampsia include:

face swelling
swelling of the hands
headache pain
changes in vision
blurred vision or seeing spots
sensitivity to light
pain when breathing in deeply
pain in the upper abdomen
pain on the upper right side
nausea and vomiting
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

If your preeclampsia symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may recommend delivering your baby early. You’ll typically recover shortly after having your baby.

You should be able to treat standard pregnancy aches and pains — including shoulder pain — with a few tips and tricks. You should feel better with:

stretches
massages — just try to see a practitioner who’s knowledgeable about pregnancy
a warm (not hot) bath
warm or cold compresses
posture support
sleeping support pillow — here are some good options

Ask your doctor about which pain medication is safe during pregnancy and right for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is normally OK to take occasionally.

For more serious causes of shoulder pain — ectopic, gallstones, and preeclampsia — you’ll need more specific medical treatment from your doctor.

Always reach out to your doctor if you have any unusual, new, or strange symptoms during pregnancy — including severe shoulder pain or pain that doesn’t get better.

Call your doctor right away if you have nausea and vomiting or other symptoms of preeclampsia during your second or third trimester.

You won’t be able to prevent most aches and pains during pregnancy. Occasional shoulder pain is a normal part of pregnancy.

But you may be able to help prevent serious complications like preeclampsia. Talk to your doctor about the best ways for you to control your blood pressure during pregnancy.

Tips to balance your blood pressure during pregnancy include:

drinking plenty of water every day
reducing salt in your diet
adding more protein to your diet
putting your feet up when you can
avoiding standing for too long
getting light exercise everyday
avoiding fast food
avoiding fried food

It’s not uncommon to have shoulder pain while you’re pregnant — and it can happen for several, mild reasons throughout your pregnancy.

There are a few rare causes of shoulder pain that can be harmful. These include an ectopic pregnancy early in the first trimester and preeclampsia during your second or third trimester.

Why is an ectopic pregnancy dangerous and what are its symptoms

July 2, 2022 Likbez Health

If you do not seek help in time, the pregnancy can end in death.

What is an ectopic pregnancy and why is it dangerous

Normal pregnancy proceeds like this. The spermatozoon penetrates the egg, which was released during the period of ovulation into the fallopian tube. The latter begins to contract, pushing the fertilized egg into the uterus. There, the egg attaches to the uterine wall and begins to develop into an actively growing embryo. nine0003

In an ectopic pregnancy, as the name implies, the egg does not enter the uterus. Most often, it lingers in the fallopian tube - too tortuous, narrow or weak to push the fetal egg where necessary. But there are times when the egg is implanted in the cervix, ovary, or other place in the abdominal cavity.

An ectopic pregnancy does not end well. A growing embryo sooner or later breaks the walls of the organ to which it is attached. The result is massive internal bleeding, infection in the abdominal cavity and peritonitis (however, you may not live to see it). nine0003

According to the American Pregnancy Association, one in 50 pregnancies is ectopic.

What signs of an ectopic pregnancy should you see a doctor for? Delayed periods, discomfort in the lower abdomen, soreness in the chest, two lines on a home test - everything seems to be normal.

Disturbances can manifest themselves at any time between the fifth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy. But most often this happens about two weeks after the delay. It is during this period that warning signs appear:

Stitching pains and cramps in the lower abdomen.
Painful nausea and vomiting.
Constant dizziness, weakness.
Pain in the rectum or radiating to the shoulder and neck.
Menstrual-like discharge.

For any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a gynecologist as soon as possible.

What symptoms should you call an ambulance for?

Do not wait and seek emergency medical help if:

You are in severe pain that lasts for more than a few minutes.
You are bleeding.
Sharp pain in the rectum, accompanied by a feeling that you have an unbearable desire to go to the toilet.
Strong and long (more than a few minutes) shoulder pain. Sometimes the blood that rushes into the abdominal cavity after a rupture of the fallopian tube accumulates at the diaphragm and irritates the nerves associated with the shoulder.
You are extremely dizzy, to the point where you feel like you are about to pass out. nine0024

Why you should go to the doctor if you suspect pregnancy

It is impossible to detect an ectopic pregnancy at home. At least until it makes itself felt with obvious dangerous symptoms.

Conclusion: when you see two stripes on the test, do not hesitate to visit the gynecologist. The doctor will find out at the initial stage whether everything is in order. To do this, he will:

Perform a pelvic examination. This is to find out if there is any unusual sensitivity or painful masses in the abdominal cavity. nine0024
Perform an ultrasound to determine where the fertilized egg has attached. In the early stages (up to 5-6 weeks), studies are done with an intravaginal sensor - it gives a more accurate result. However, there are cases when the implantation site cannot be determined. Then the doctor will prescribe you an additional ultrasound for a period of 8-9 weeks.
Ask you to take a blood or urine test to determine the level of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). At the beginning of an ectopic pregnancy, the amount of this hormone is much less than during a normal one, and tests will show this. nine0024

The second line on the test for ectopic pregnancy often looks very pale. This is due to low hCG levels.

How to treat an ectopic pregnancy

There are no options - the pregnancy will have to be terminated. But in what way, it depends on the timing.

Medical treatment

Used when abnormal egg attachment is detected at an early stage. The specialist will inject methotrexate (Trexall), which stops the growth of the placenta and forces the body to get rid of the pregnancy on its own. nine0003

Please note that multiple treatments may be required, so it is important to stay in touch with your doctor and follow his advice.

Laparoscopy

This is a small operation during which the surgeon removes the fertilized egg. Most likely, the fallopian tube will not be injured.

Surgery

This is an emergency option. If the fallopian tube has been torn, the surgeon will remove part or all of it to save the woman's life.

Is it possible to get pregnant after an ectopic pregnancy

It depends on what caused the violation. Here are the common causes of ectopic pregnancy:

Fallopian tube infections. Due to inflammation, the tube cannot move the fetal egg into the uterus.
Endometriosis.
Scars and adhesions. As a rule, these are the consequences of previously undergone operations (the same abortions) or infections. They also interfere with the movement of a fertilized egg.
Personal features. In some women, the fallopian tube is too narrow or tortuous. nine0024

What is the cause in your case and what to do about it, it is best to discuss with the gynecologist. The specialist will read your medical record, conduct additional research and draw up a rehabilitation plan that will help you conceive and carry a healthy baby one day.

Signs of ectopic pregnancy, symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

Only a doctor can definitively determine whether a pregnancy is ectopic, but there are signs that it is important to pay attention to in time.

Vera Ermakova

Approximately 2% of all pregnancies are ectopic: in this case, the fertilized egg, failing to enter the uterus, eventually attaches itself to the fallopian tube, is implanted in the ovary, cervix, or some other part of the abdominal cavity. nine0003

Contents of the article

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Why ectopic pregnancy is dangerous

If the embryo is not removed in time, it can break the walls of the organ to which it is attached. Internal bleeding, infection in the abdominal cavity, peritonitis - the consequences can be deadly. An ectopic pregnancy in the early stages usually manifests itself in the same way as a normal one; the first violations usually appear two to three weeks after the delay in menstruation. Only a doctor can finally determine whether the current pregnancy is ectopic, but it is important to know the signs that you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. nine0003

Pain and cramps in the lower abdomen

Any pain in the lower abdomen during pregnancy is a reason to see a doctor. But if the stabbing pains or spasms last for several minutes without a break, it is important to urgently seek help.

Nausea and vomiting

If the pain is accompanied by nausea or even vomiting, you should also consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Dizziness

Dizziness and weakness during pregnancy are normal, but if they are so strong that you are afraid of losing consciousness, you should consult a doctor. This suggests that internal bleeding is developing, which can be life-threatening.

Pain in the rectum

The feeling of acute pain in the rectum, which is also accompanied by a strong urge to defecate, is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

Severe and prolonged pain in the shoulder area

Blood that enters the abdominal cavity after a rupture of the fallopian tube may accumulate in the area of the diaphragm. This leads to irritation of the nerves that "control" the shoulder - and we feel pain. It is important to call a doctor as soon as possible, in such cases the bill goes really for minutes.

Bleeding or menstrual-like discharge

If you notice menstrual-like discharge during pregnancy, tell your doctor about it. But if full-fledged bleeding has begun, you should immediately call an ambulance - this is the very case when the count goes really for minutes.