Dealing With Shoulder Pain In Ectopic Pregnancy Essay

Dealing With Shoulder Pain In Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy, which is also known as tubal pregnancy or eccyesis is a abnormality of pregnancy where the foetus is not implanted inside the uterus but outside of it. Many pregnant women, experience both the symptoms of vaginal bleeding as well as pain in the abdomen. Thus an early YSG is suggested in most of the cases. The pain may be described as dull, gnawing and sharp. It also produces cramps. Pain may also spread to the shoulder, in case bleeding into the abdomen. Severe bleeding causes fainting, rapid heart rate, or even shock. With very rare exceptions, the foetus is unable to survive.
Important Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy -
One-sided abdominal pain -Persistent, severe and unilateral (one sided )pain is experienced in the abdomen.
Vaginal bleeding - Vaginal bleeding is a different type of bleeding which takes place intermittently and has a dark red hue. These symptoms though different from normal menstruation, women still confuse it with their regular periods and do not take medical help immediately. This proves to be dangerous.
Shoulder tip pain - is felt at the joint of shoulder and arm. The pain is felt while lying down and exact location of the pain is not determined. The cause of this pain is due to the excitation of the phrenic nerve. This nerve is present in the diaphragm and separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. The stimulation of this nerve produces the sharp, referred pain the joint of the shoulder and arm.
Bowel pain - You may experience pain when passing urine or stools.
Diarrhoea and vomiting - These symptoms are common in ectopic pregnancy. These symptoms mimic the symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder. Thus ectopic pregnanc y is almost always accompanied with vomiting and diarrhoea.
What is Shoulder Tip Pain during ectopic pregnancy?
This Shoulder tip pain is a referred pain caused by the excitation of the phrenic nerve. This type of pain suggests a worsening ectopic pregnancy. This happens due to the bleeding into the diaphragm during the time of taking in and blowing out air. This builds up after a feeling of sickness or signs of vaginal blood discharge is seen. This pain is felt at the shoulder tip and not on any part of your neck or your back. The tip of the shoulder is the meeting point of your arm and shoulder . The type of pain experienced during a spasm, when your muscles are stressed, is not shoulder tip pain. This pain has a distinctive characteristic. It is severe, sharp and gives you very strange kind of a sensation. Perhaps this kind of pain you have never felt before ever in all your life.
How to deal with this shoulder tip pain?
You can take paracetamols, which are known to be safe in pregnancy providing you have taken this medicine in the past without problems. You can also apply a cold pack to your shoulder