Left shoulder pain 4yrs later

[Walk79er 3]

I am four years post lap band surgery. Everything is been great no issues recently. About a year ago I had my band loosened a little bit due to throwing up so much. But within the last couple weeks every time I eat no matter how little or how much within the first few bites I tend to have a pain that radiates and settled in my left shoulder. Anyone else experience this? If so what was outcome? My GI Dr set me up to scan gallbladder to see if I have gallstones

[Alex Brecher 10,502]

Many bandsters have severe left shoulder pain. I personally had the same issue. It can be caused by the lap-band putting pressure on the Vagus nerve.

1. You should go for an esophagram to make sure that your Lap-band didn't slip.
2. If it looks OK, I would suggest removing 3/4 of the saline for a few weeks to give your tummy a little rest. Then go ahead and slowly start adding saline back, a few cc at a time.

[Bidany 1]

Hi I also get really bad shoulder pain on my left shoulder but for me it's random. I'll just be sitting down somewhere and it just starts to hurt out of nowhere can anyone explain this?

[Jmbdt 9]

I had this pain for 3
Months non stop at the start of my journey when I laid down or after I'd eaten and discovered it was the
Vagus nerve where your band is resting on your diaphragm. This disappeared as I lost weight and tightened the band...
It's a horrendous thing, I really hope you get it sorted!

[2muchfun 8,927]

I've read on this forum where some folks have a similar problem and had to have their gall bladder removed. How did your scan go?

tmf

[Walk79er 3]

Scans all went good. I went back to my bariatric dr. He had to loosen my band he said the left shoulder pain was due to the band hitting the diaphragm which was hitting a nerve shooting pain up my left side. I am feeling so much better now. Will still have some pain but not often and not near as painful. Thanks for asking

[rjo132 17]

Hey I know your post is over a year old, but may I ask how they diagnosed it was your band catching on the diaphragm causing Vagus nerve reaction?
My band is actually sutured to my diaphragm. I have this off and on excruciating pain at my lowest rib and somewhat up under it on my left side. I can push up and under my rib with my fingertips and get some relief.
I’m just wondering how they diagnosed this for you?