Can Cholecystitis Cause Right Shoulder Pain?

Cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, can indeed cause pain in the right shoulder. This phenomenon occurs due to the way sensory nerves from the upper right abdomen and the right shoulder converge at the same spinal cord level. When these nerve signals travel through the spinal column, they can interfere with each other, leading the brain to misinterpret the source of the pain.

This type of pain is known in medicine as referred pain. It means that although the actual issue is in the gallbladder, the discomfort is felt in the shoulder area. Patients often wonder why there is pain in the shoulder when there is no injury or condition affecting that area directly.

It's important to understand that treating the underlying condition will relieve the shoulder pain. In most cases, surgical removal of the inflamed gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the recommended treatment. Once the inflammation subsides and the gallbladder is removed, the referred shoulder pain typically resolves on its own.

There is usually no need for additional treatment specifically targeting the shoulder pain. However, patients should always consult with a healthcare professional to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes of shoulder discomfort. Early diagnosis and treatment of cholecystitis can prevent complications and improve recovery outcomes.