Ectopic shoulder?

[Elliexx2]

Hi everyone, I am new here just looking for any help. I am currently 5 weeks 4 days pregnant, for the past 2 days I have had a dull ache in the top half of my arm at the side like where you would receive a vaccine, it hurts to touch if I press it but pain eases when im laying down. I know reading online is one of the worst things you can do but when you google anything like this it mentions ectopic. I have had no stomach pains , I have had occasional few second mild cramps in lower stomach area but nothing painful and have had no bleeding or spotting at all. My question is with an ectopic pregnancy where exactly is the shoulder tip pain, whenever you read online it just says where the shoulder and arm meet but where exactly is that the front, the back , the side, the muscle or bone? I am going to contact my gp tomorrow if continues or go to A&E if worsens but just wondering if anyone is sure of where the pain actually occurs? Thank youuu
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Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy!

Shoulder tip pain is exactly where it says – not the neck or the back but the tip of your shoulder. If you look to the left over your shoulder and then cast your eyes down, the tip of your shoulder is where your shoulder ends and your arm starts.
Mild cramps are normal in the early weeks of pregnancy but anything that’s insanely worse than period pain and accompanied by blood, is concerning.
Your description of your symptoms sound perfectly fine to me so take a deep breath and know that your baby is most likely fine!
Anecdotal evidence about ectopics suggests that the shoulder tip pain comes after the cramps and bleeding start.
You are only a few days off an early scan so maybe try booking one to give peace of mind?

My daughter suffered an ectopic pregnancy. She had very sharp abdominal pain to begin with. The shoulder pain started right before they took her in for surgery.

I have had an ectopic pregnancy and hate to say it, but shoulder pain isn't all that common... generally, you only get shoulder pain, just as you're about to collapse in a life threatening condition/following rupture.

I started having symptoms days after my positive pregnancy test, which were light bleeding, stomach cramps (but not really one sided). I was dismissed as "miscarrying" for nearly 3 weeks, but as it advanced, I had quite bad rectal pressure/pain... walking felt very concussive down there.

I would think you are absolutely fine, but if you are genuinely concerned, push for someone to see you.

I had a ruptured ectopic with no shoulder pain.

My rupture symptoms were fainting, vomiting and then light headedness.

I was probably minutes from dying and very very lucky to be here. Go to your local EPU if you are worried.

Shoulder pain is so misunderstood as a symptom - it's trooped out as the "main" symptom but it's really very uncommon and is pretty much the last symptom before collapse/unconsciousness - it's caused by internal bleeding reaching the diaphragm. I've had 2 ruptured ectopics and honestly it is the most unimaginable pain

It's more likely that you've just pulled a muscle/slept funny

If you have one sided pain though - more towards your hip area rather than central to your uterus then definitely see a doctor

Hi OP ive had two ectopics.

First one only two bouts of abdominal pain which were bad. I was a ware I was risk to ectopics so as so I was able to go for a scan to check it out I did and it was indeed ectopic.

Second one shoulder pain, It was between my neck and should and felt like trapped wind. It was sharp. I actually didn't know I was pregnant and it ruptured - I originally thought it was endometritis pain. The pain in my abdomen and rectum was shocking but both also symptoms of endometritis. I actually went to the Gp for pain medication for the endo as I was in bad pain and bleeding heavily. She gave me a PG test and then told me to go directly to hospital where it actually full on ruptured and I was took in to theatre.

The male doctor that I seen acted like he was really pissed off I was there on a Sunday. He gave me an horrific internal and diagnosed I was having a miscarriage and told the nurse to get me some paracetamol. She handed me the paracetamol whilst I was crouching down in pain and then left.

The pain got so bad I crawled in to the corridor and shouted for a help. An amazing female doctor came running and helped me get on a bed and gave me 2 shots of morphine. The male doctor came in and she gave him a blocking whilst I was drifting off in to the land of purple unicorns.

Both mine presented at just after 6 weeks.

Mild momentary dull pain is normal. Sharp harsh pain isn't. Just keep an eye on it

@ivfgottwins

Shoulder pain is so misunderstood as a symptom - it's trooped out as the "main" symptom but it's really very uncommon and is pretty much the last symptom before collapse/unconsciousness - it's caused by internal bleeding reaching the diaphragm. I've had 2 ruptured ectopics and honestly it is the most unimaginable pain

It's more likely that you've just pulled a muscle/slept funny

If you have one sided pain though - more towards your hip area rather than central to your uterus then definitely see a doctor

I didn't know that about the bleeding reaching the diaphragm. Bloody hell what us women go through.

@scrambledcustard

Yup! When I have aches and pain now and just power through people always comment about my high pain threshold level - I tell them I've had 2 ruptured ectopics - no pain compares to that

Even when I nearly died having my twins I got my ass out of that bed and down in NICU less than 6 hours after my c section - us women - we just do what we have to do

@scrambledcustard What an awful experience! Poor you :-(
Mine wasn't quite so dramatic, but I was told I was "just miscarrying". Bleeding and pain is normal... ring back in 2 weeks if you still have symptoms. Rang back, got told there were no Drs available and noone could refer me. EPU told me they couldn't talk to me without a referral. When I eventually got a scan, the Dr was like "goodness, your tummy is so full of blood we can barely see your ovaries". Scary how it can just be dismissed so easily isn't it? :-(