Shoulder pain with period

[MAMA1kk]

Hear me out. Iv been living with this since 2023 !
Every month without fail when my period starts I get shoulder pain in one shoulder it's awful. Like bad toothache 😫 there constant and last around 24 hours but still can be uncomfortable for the duration 4-5 days)
People think I'm crazy.
Dr's were dismissive when I first went (after a year of tracking this and trying other stuff)
Eventually said I had bursitis in that joint, and that alongside the hormon fluctuating is what's probably causing the issues. Take pain relief and get on with it.

Tonight I have barely slept due to it. I'm greatful that this is only one night a month but it affects me so bad. I worry about it worsening too.

Has anyone had anything simlar ? Did anyone resolve an issue like this ?

Thanks

Yes!!! I think its trapped gas! I get awful bloating around my period and I think its related.
I find simeticone based meds help.. so stuff like Windeeze. Meds to help with gas and bloating pain.
Trapped gas can be excruciating. I didn't realise until I experienced it. Your menstrual cycle slows down your digestive system causing bloating and trapped gas. Constipation prior to coming on and then the other way once on! Just messes with your digestive system basically. And gas pain often presents in the shoulder for some reason.

frozen shoulder/shoulder pain is one of many known side effects of perimenopause, from which I’ve suffered for 2 years! Due to hormone changes apparently. I suppose it’s possible that it can also be a problem due to periods. I find light weight workouts help but haven’t cured it.

Isn't shoulder pain associated with ectopic pregnancy? Obviously you're not having one of those every month but there must be a neural connection between your ovary and shoulder. I expect someone medically trained can explain that better than me.

Shoulder pain can be referred pain from the gut as other posters have mentioned. I had severe pain each month which meant having to stay up right and breathing in was painful. Specialist consultant said it sounded like diaphragmatic endometriosis, luckily menopause saved me from any further operations.

Here is info

I specifically questioned this when they did my Ultra sound scans of which they did my shoulder and ovaries, tubes and abdomen up to and diaphragm and there was no sign of endometriosis. I asked this as this was a concern for me.

There's no frozen aspect to the shoulder and the physio was happy with both range of movements and my mechanics

Have you had any blood tests recently? Might be worth getting them as a precaution. The spleen is connected to the shoulder so might be a related issue.

with all the usual caveats about medical advice online...diaphragmatic endometriosis can present with shoulder pain (due to the shared innervation of the underside of the diaphragm with the shoulder). A rare as hen's teeth possibility may also be something called a catamenial pneumothorax (also endo related... would usually present with shortness of breath but i guess it's conceivable that it could just cause pain). Might be worth exploring those ideas with your GP.

Thankyou this is helpful. I'm going to visit my GP and will mention thid