1. < Digestive Health

Left shoulder pain after eating or drinking

Posted by jrofri @jrofri, Dec 5, 2017

Has anyone experienced severe left shoulder pain, down the upper arm, up the neck to the ear, approximately 15 mins after eating. This pain usually lasts for three hours after eating a meal.

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wshaikh22 | @wshaikh22 | Mar 3, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @wshaikh22 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Connect has several members post about this type..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @wshaikh22 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Connect has several members post about this type of pain. I would like to invite @petuniamom567 to share her experience with you. If you read her post, (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/665850/), you will see that she saw a specific type of GI doctor who is a digestive specialist who specialized in motility disorders.

You mention that you have had H Pylori twice. Was this diagnosed when you had an upper endoscopy?

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No. I had H Pylori in 2001 and again in 2021. My endoscopy was done in 2012. I hope it answers your question but please feel free to ask again if additional information is needed.

Another thing is when I have digestive discomfort my let shoulder pain increase. I wonder if there are some digestive nerves that may some link with shoulder or vice versa.

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 4, 2022
In reply to @wshaikh22 "No. I had H Pylori in 2001 and again in 2021. My endoscopy was done in..." + (show)
@wshaikh22

No. I had H Pylori in 2001 and again in 2021. My endoscopy was done in 2012. I hope it answers your question but please feel free to ask again if additional information is needed.

Another thing is when I have digestive discomfort my let shoulder pain increase. I wonder if there are some digestive nerves that may some link with shoulder or vice versa.

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It is nice to hear from you again, @wshaikh22. I'm wondering how the H Plyori was diagnosed? This type of diagnosis usually happens following an endoscopy.

Have you considered seeing a GI doctor who is a motility specialist? As mentioned in my previous post, @petuniamom567 mentions the same symptoms were helped by seeing this type of specialist. Here is the link to her post, (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/665850/

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1 reply
wshaikh22 | @wshaikh22 | Mar 4, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "It is nice to hear from you again, @wshaikh22. I'm wondering how the H Plyori was..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

It is nice to hear from you again, @wshaikh22. I'm wondering how the H Plyori was diagnosed? This type of diagnosis usually happens following an endoscopy.

Have you considered seeing a GI doctor who is a motility specialist? As mentioned in my previous post, @petuniamom567 mentions the same symptoms were helped by seeing this type of specialist. Here is the link to her post, (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/665850/

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Thanks for your response. I have an appointment with my GI Doctor on March 22. By the way, what is motility? I also had a colonoscopy in October 2021 and everything was fine. There was no polyp and the GI doctor says I don't need another Colonoscopy for the next ten years unless something happens.

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 4, 2022
In reply to @wshaikh22 "Thanks for your response. I have an appointment with my GI Doctor on March 22. By..." + (show)
@wshaikh22

Thanks for your response. I have an appointment with my GI Doctor on March 22. By the way, what is motility? I also had a colonoscopy in October 2021 and everything was fine. There was no polyp and the GI doctor says I don't need another Colonoscopy for the next ten years unless something happens.

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GI motility disorders are best diagnosed by a GI doctor who is a motility specialist. I found a link from John Hopkins that discusses motility issues of the GI tract. As you read this, you will see that colonoscopies and endoscopies cannot diagnose motility issues. If you read the link you might understand it better
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/hopkins_medicine_magazine/features/springsummer-2015/motility-mysteries-solved
I wish you well as you look for answers to the discomfort you are experiencing. Will you post an update?

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1 reply
wshaikh22 | @wshaikh22 | Mar 4, 2022
In reply to @hopeful33250 "GI motility disorders are best diagnosed by a GI doctor who is a motility specialist. I..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

GI motility disorders are best diagnosed by a GI doctor who is a motility specialist. I found a link from John Hopkins that discusses motility issues of the GI tract. As you read this, you will see that colonoscopies and endoscopies cannot diagnose motility issues. If you read the link you might understand it better
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/hopkins_medicine_magazine/features/springsummer-2015/motility-mysteries-solved
I wish you well as you look for answers to the discomfort you are experiencing. Will you post an update?

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Thanks and I will definitely read it. I appreciate all your responses and thank for being so kind. For the last two days I have been taking Tamarind sauce three times a day and also Turmeric Capsules. It seems like it is working. My droid calm. I have found the following comments on Google about Tamarind.

Peptic ulcers are painful sores that appear in the stomach and the small intestine. Tamarind seed extracts have a protective effect against ulcers, as tamarind is rich in polyphenolic compounds. These compounds also help in the prevention of ulcer formation.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 4, 2022

I'm glad to be of help, @wshaikh22. Remember to read the post of another member about motility disorders, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/665850/.

Here is a link to Mayo Clinic's website that provides some information about motility disorders and clinical trials, https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=GI%20motility.

The more you can educate yourself in all GI disorders the better you can advocate for your health needs.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

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wshaikh22 | @wshaikh22 | Mar 4, 2022
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @elmamo, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We’re an online community of members who help each..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @elmamo, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We’re an online community of members who help each other through our shared medical and life experiences. We can’t diagnose health issues or prescribe treatments.

Your pain during eating sounds just horrible! Eating is such a basic requirement for daily living, I can’t imagine how this must be impacting your day to day existence! Makes you dread mealtime! Is this pain during eating or after? How long does the discomfort last?
Does it matter what kind of foods you eat?

You’ve already had gall bladder surgery as well as treatment to fix your Hiatal hernia and also gastric sleeve surgery. There’ve been significant changes to your digestive system and I’m wondering if there’s a correlation.
Did this pain all being after these procedures?

I did find this previous discussion in Connect… https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/left-shoulder-pain-15-mins-after-eating/
I’m hoping some of our members can chime in with what they’ve experienced and what helped them,

After doing a little online research it looks as though this isn’t a rare symptom but really does warrant a trip to your doctor. This extreme pain in your left shoulder, from everything I’m reading, points to pancreatitis. To a lesser degree, it can also be triggered by heart issues, GERD and a hiatal hernia.
https://wholesomealive.com/left-shoulder-pain-after-eating/
https://www.newhealthadvisor.org/pain-in-left-shoulder-after-eating.html

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Did you ever think about alternative and complementary treatments? Like natural medicines, homeopathic or Ayurvedic.

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Phylis | @sanny | Mar 21, 2022

I've read a lot of MS posts here, so, from Mayo's perspective, could the narrowing of veins resulting in poor blood flow from the brain and spinal cord, known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, contribute to nervous system damage in people with multiple sclerosis. Either way is fine with me, just trying to see how the science has evolved. God bless those of you who suffer from this condition. My heart goes out to you.

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Phylis | @sanny | Mar 21, 2022
In reply to @wshaikh22 "No. I had H Pylori in 2001 and again in 2021. My endoscopy was done in..." + (show)
@wshaikh22

No. I had H Pylori in 2001 and again in 2021. My endoscopy was done in 2012. I hope it answers your question but please feel free to ask again if additional information is needed.

Another thing is when I have digestive discomfort my let shoulder pain increase. I wonder if there are some digestive nerves that may some link with shoulder or vice versa.

Jump to this post

Honestly, what does H Pylori cause? A little fatigue or something more? Would the (over)use of antibiotics cause H Pylori and why is this such a bad thing? I think I know; I just want to hear from you all. Thanks.

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Phylis | @sanny | Mar 21, 2022
In reply to @loundeann "Hi. I'm new here. My daughter is being worked up for MS. She's had 3 MRIs..." + (show)
@loundeann

Hi. I'm new here. My daughter is being worked up for MS. She's had 3 MRIs with contrast in brain and spine. No lesions in the brain and only one on the spine at C2-3. Her symptoms are numbness and tingling in the right arm, hand and upper torso on the right side. However, very recently she has been experiencing severe pain in the right arm after eating dinner. Not sure why but another site referred to CCSVI as a possibility. Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) is a term used to describe a potential reduction in blood flow in the major veins that drain blood from the brain and spinal cord over a prolonged period. The condition was first described as being a possible contributor to MS by Italian physician, Dr Zamboni in 2009.

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Could it be that the narrowing of veins resulting in poor blood flow from the brain and spinal cord, known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, contribute to nervous system damage in people with multiple sclerosis, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society? Please note loundeann that this is an evolving science. Mayo will know one way or the other formally. We are in 2022 now and would love to hear the cutting edge science that you follow. Blessings. Thanks.

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