Various types of shoulder pain
“Most shoulder pain is caused by far more ordinary things, like muscle strain, arthritis, tendon problems or poor posture,” Ashamalla said.
Typical orthopedic shoulder pain usually occurs after an injury, overuse, sleeping awkwardly, lifting something heavy or repetitive motion, according to the doctor.
“It tends to worsen with certain arm movements, and the shoulder may feel tender, stiff, weak or have a limited range of motion,” he said. “By contrast, referred pain from the liver often does not behave like a shoulder problem.”
Published case reports have shown that shoulder pain can be a symptom of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. (iStock)
The doctor listed the following clues that may indicate referred shoulder pain linked to liver cancer.
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“That said, these are warning signs, not proof. There’s no single pain pattern that automatically means cancer,” Ashamalla emphasized.
“What matters most is when the pain does not fit the usual orthopedic pattern or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms.”
Other liver cancer symptoms
One of the challenges with liver cancer is that it often causes no early symptoms at all, or only very vague ones, according to Ashamalla.
“Liver cancer often does not present with one obvious, dramatic symptom,” he said. “Instead, it may show up as a cluster of vague changes that are easy to brush off one by one.”
One of the challenges with liver cancer is that it often causes no early symptoms at all, or only very vague ones, according to the doctor. (iStock)
Ashamalla shared the following liver cancer symptoms that can be subtle and easy to overlook.
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When to see a doctor
Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain.
“Shoulder pain is extremely common, and in most cases the cause is benign,” he said. “Don’t panic about ordinary shoulder pain, but don’t ignore it if it’s persistent, unexplained, or comes with other red-flag symptoms.”
For those who already have liver disease or risk factors for liver cancer, such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, unexplained symptoms may warrant a greater concern. (iStock)
For those who already have liver disease or risk factors for liver cancer, such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, unexplained symptoms may warrant a greater concern.
People should seek medical attention if their pain meets any of the following criteria, according to the doctor.
