Symptom 3: Shoulder Pain
You might be puzzled, thinking, “What does my shoulder have to do with my abdomen?” Here’s the kicker: sometimes, the body plays tricks on us, presenting pain in areas we least expect. Enter the phenomenon of referred pain.
Referred pain, in the context of pneumoperitoneum, occurs when the diaphragm, a muscle essential for breathing, gets irritated by the trapped air in the abdominal cavity. This irritation sends signals to the phrenic nerve, which shares sensory pathways with the shoulder. This shared pathway confuses the brain, making us feel pain in the shoulder instead of the actual site.
This shoulder pain isn’t like the typical discomfort from sleeping awkwardly or overexerting oneself. It’s more elusive, appearing without a clear trigger and lingering with an undefined intensity. As such, it’s easy for folks to misattribute its origin, which could lead to delayed diagnosis.
It’s also essential to recognize the nature of this pain. Described by many as a dull, persistent ache located primarily in the tip, it’s a discomfort that can neither be massaged away nor eased with over-the-counter painkillers. When paired with other symptoms of pneumoperitoneum, this seemingly unrelated shoulder pain starts making a whole lot more sense. (3)
