Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Yes, liver inflammation can causes pain in the right shoulder, back and arm. This is because liver inflammation can irritate the diaphragm which lies just above the liver. This irritation of diaphragm could be responsible for the pain symptoms you are experiencing.

Though Vitamin C is known to provide relief for chronic inflammatory pain, for liver inflammation (hepatitis) it is always best to go for hepato-protective medications like Liv 52 etc.

But before you start on any medication I suggest you get the Liver Function Test done to know the extent of liver damage following which appropriate therapy can be initiated.

Dietary advice would be:
1. Drink plenty of water
2. Avoid high protein and fatty foods
3. Limit or stop alcohol consumption
4. Take simple fruit juices to XXXXXXX your daily calorie requirement

I hope my answer has been adequate and informative. If you have any follow up queries I will be available to answer them.

Regards,

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Hi,

Thanks for writing back to me.

I think your question is slightly reverse. As I understand you are trying to relate your shoulder pain with the hepatitis. You should actually say your symptoms more and describe them so that I can tell the possibilities.

Hepatitis is a medical term given for liver inflammation, it need not always indicate a serious condition.

Hepatitis can occur due to the following:
1. Alcohol intake
2. Viral infection
3. Drugs (medications)

Symptoms:
1. Nausea or vomiting
2. Loss of appetite
3. Fever, usually low-grade
4. Abdominal pain or distention
5. Yellow discoloration of eyes, urine.
6. Fatigue etc

As suggested earlier you will have to get Liver Function Test done. Based on those reports further treatment can be initiated.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

Regards,

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Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing back.

Your symptoms of back pain, shoulder pain is mostly due to a condition called Cervical Spondylosis. I believe you have been misguided into thinking that it is due to liver inflammation. Though liver inflammation can cause the same but in your condition it is probably irrelevant.

Cervical Spondylosis is a degenerative disorder in which there is abnormal wear on the cartilage and bones of the cervical spine.

More common symptoms are:
1. Neck pain (may radiate to the arms or shoulder)
2. Neck stiffness that gets worse over time
3. Loss of sensation or abnormal sensations in the shoulders and arms
4. Weakness of the arms
5. Headaches, particularly in the back of the head

Diagnosis can be confirmed only by a proper physical examination and with the help of few investigations like:
1. X-ray Cervical Spine, lateral and PA view.
2. MRI Cervical Spine
3. EMG

So I suggest you consult a Orthopedic Surgeon for the proper examination and confirmation of the diagnosis.

Treatment would include:
1. Physiotherapy - To learn exercises to do at home
2. Analgesics (pain killers)
3. Cortisone injections to specific areas of the spine

If the pain does not respond to these measures, or there is a loss of movement or feeling, surgery is to be considered.

Regarding your heart condition, it is difficult to hear an heart flutter even by a experienced doctor. It is usually detected in an EKG tracing. Flutter can cause stroke but it is not a sign of stroke.

During the flutter episode you will experience palpitation (abnormal awareness of ones one heart beat). If you have experience such incidents its definitely better to get a Cardiologists opinion.

Vitamin C can be safely taken in large quantities, the usually prescribed dose is 1000mg per day. But you are taking 10,000mg which in my opinion is quite unnecessary. At this doses it may cause kidney stones, so you better stop taking such high doses.

As I have mentioned earlier Vitamin C can reduce inflammatory pain a little but Vitamin C by itself will not relieve your pain completely.

I hope my answer has been adequate and informative.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

Regards.

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