NHS explain the best ways to treat back pain

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Gallstones can occur when the chemical make-up of bile is disturbed inside the gallbladder. Symptoms of this common condition mostly affect the abdomen and digestive system, though lesser-known side effects can target other parts of the body too. Back and shoulder pain are generic symptoms often dismissed as a simple muscle ache, so how can you tell if your discomfort is related to gallstones?

What are gallstones?

Gallstones are the leading cause of gallbladder pain, though many people ignore common symptoms of this uncomfortable condition.

According to the NHS, gallstones can form if there are unusually high levels of:

• Cholesterol inside the gallbladder (about 4 out of 5 gallstones are made of cholesterol)
• A waste product called bilirubin inside the gallbladder (about 1 in 5 gallstones is made of bilirubin)

These chemical imbalances cause tiny crystals to develop in the bile which can cause the gallbladder’s bile duct to become blocked.

Being aware of the symptoms is crucial to spot gallstones before they worsen – but what are the most overlooked symptoms?

Back Pain

When the gallbladder becomes inflamed, sharp pain can be felt in the belly, the area above the stomach, the right shoulder blade, and the back.

Pains caused by gallstones are characterised as sudden, intense, and severe, says medical website Healthline.

While pain in the back area may seem unusual, it is a key sign of severe inflammation of the gallbladder.

Healthline says: “When gallstones cause a blockage of one of the ducts that move bile, they can trigger sudden and escalating pain, which is sometimes dubbed a gallstone attack.”

Pain that spreads from the centre of the abdomen to the back is a common symptom of such attacks.

Shoulder pain

While the gallbladder is most commonly associated with stomach pain and abdominal discomfort, shoulder pain can often occur when gallstones cause inflammation of the organ.

Dull pain in the right shoulder is caused by the same gallbladder attacks which can trigger severe back pain.

When your gallbladder is inflamed and swollen, it irritates the phrenic nerve which stretches from the abdomen, through the chest, and into your neck, linking the back and shoulder region to the affected organ.

Recurring right shoulder pain is a crucial indicator of gallstones or a gallbladder infection and should always be reported to your GP.

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Chest pain

Irritation of the phrenic never is the common denominator in the shoulder, back and chest pain caused by gallstones.

Radiating pain can travel to the upper back and chest, mimicking the effects of a heart attack.

Chest pain caused by a gallbladder attack is most prominent when taking deep breaths and shouldn’t be confused for heartburn.

According to the NHS, a rapid heartbeat can also develop when gallstones obstruct the flow of bile or longer periods, or begin to move to other organs.

The movement of gallstones from the gallbladder, to the pancreas or the small bowel, can be extremely dangerous.

What are the common symptoms of gallstones?

Gallstones are often asymptomatic until they are big enough to cause more serious problems such as biliary colic.

For those who do experience gallbladder pain, there are a host of common symptoms which often accompany these feelings of sharp discomfort.

According to the NHS, the common symptoms of progressive gallstones include:

• A high temperature
• More persistent pain
• A rapid heartbeat
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Itchy skin
• Diarrhoea
• Chills or shivering attacks
• Confusion
• A loss of appetite
• You should contact your GP immediately if you are experiencing severe pain around the gallbladder.

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