You should have an index of suspicion that a patient with pain referred to the right shoulder has an injury to which organ?
Liver
When a patient complains of pain referred to the right shoulder, one of the first organs that come to mind is the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ that sits below the liver on the right side of the body and is responsible for storing and releasing bile that aids in digestion.
Gallbladder pain is typically described as a sharp, cramp-like pain that occurs in the upper right abdomen or beneath the rib cage. The pain may also radiate to the back or right shoulder.
Other symptoms associated with gallbladder issues include nausea, vomiting, bloating, and gas. These symptoms may worsen after eating fatty or greasy foods.
It is important to note that not all right shoulder pain is related to the gallbladder. Other possible causes of shoulder pain may include rotator cuff injury, bursitis, arthritis, or a pinched nerve. A thorough medical history and physical exam, along with additional diagnostic testing such as imaging or blood work, may be needed to determine the underlying cause of the patient’s symptoms.
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