5+2 Shoulder Aches

[Ashworth90]

Hello 😊
Just looking for some reassurance / advice really. I’m currently 5+2 with my first baby and for the past five days I have had quite strong aches in both of my shoulders. Never in both at the same time, but it seems to jump between the two. The ache can extend down my arm and ache at the joint of my elbow. I can’t pinpoint where on my shoulder it stems from either as it seems to be all over, but lying down seems to relieve it.

I’m worried as google tells me nothing except ectopic pregnancy. I have had stomach cramps on one side but these have been mild and nothing severe or stabbing. I have had no bleeding or spotting either. I spoke to my GP the other night and he thought it could be acid reflux as shoulder pain in an ectopic wouldn’t have started at 4+5 like mine did as it’s one of the last symptoms.

I’m debating whether to ring the epu or not, but don’t know if I’m just being paranoid and it’s muscular? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ring epu. I think shoulder pain is linked to ectopic.

Oh and good luck. Hopefully it's nothing to worry about

Thank you @Minkies13 for your reply. I’ve tried ringing epu but they are closed. Might have missed the boat for this week as only open mon-fri and tomorrow is bank holiday 😞 I’ll see how the weekend goes and try again Monday!

Could you try another hospital's epu? If it continues to cause you pain in your shoulders maybe you could go for a private scan?

@Minkies13 I have a private scan booked for 17th when I’m 6+5 just to put my mind at rest anyway, but as I’ve had the shoulder aches for five days I wasn’t sure if I should perhaps have been doing something in the meantime. They aren’t painful it’s just more annoying and making me worried more than anything else 😊

Just an update. I phoned another epu close by and spoke to a lovely lady. She reassured me that what I described didn’t sound like ectopic shoulder pain. As I can feel it in my shoulder blade as well as down my arm, she said ectopic pain doesn’t move and it’s a very specific type of pain. Wouldn’t go on to describe it as she didn’t want me to know 😂 but said what I had told her she didn’t believe it was ectopic pain I was experiencing. Hopefully this might help if anyone else has the same! 💕

@ashworth90 I had this with my first and experiencing it now 2nd time round x

@laura3151 oh thank you for the reply 😊 that’s really good to know. I think the internet leads us to think anything shoulder related is ectopic! I hope yours eases up. Do you remember how long it lasted? I’m on day 6 now 😢 x

Hi @Ashworth90 I'm pretty sure I had it on and off through out my first trimester x

Just wanted to update the thread as I know people always like an update and hopefully this will provide reassurance to someone.

My stomach pains got worse and my shoulder pains a lot more prominent. I booked an early scan at 6+4 weeks and everything is perfect! So don’t worry as we can all have stabbing pains and shoulder pains and it not be ectopic pregnancy!

So glad to hear everything is fine! Best of luck for the rest of your pregnancy :)

Omg i have been searching the internet for this and relieved to finally see an outcome that isn't ectopic as thats all that has come up. I have exactly same pain i can't figure out where its stemming from and going dowm my arm like a dead arm feeling mainly in right side but a little in left. Mild but noticable and started at 4 weeks and 3 days. I booked a super early scan for tomorrow to hopefully rule out ectopic as its causing me major anxiety. First pregnancy and i never thought i would be this worried. Hope all continues well for you thanks for update xxx

@Ashworth90 i know this post is super old so you may not see this but if you do can you remember how long your shoulder pain lasted? I have it at the minute extending from my shoulder down my arm and along my shoulder blade to my neck/back of head. 5 weeks 2 days and have never had this before so freaking out a bit x