The Symptoms and Tests in Acupuncture for Gallbladder Pain and Gallstones

Acupuncture doctors are trained to look for a number of symptoms that manifest in gallbladder pain and gallstones.

These symptoms usually manifest after a stone of sufficient size (usually more than 8mm) blocks the cystic duct or the common bile duct, resulting in:

1. Abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant or in the middle of the upper abdomen. This pain may be recurrent, sharp, cramping, or dull. It may radiate to the right hand side of the back or below the right shoulder blade.

2. Fever or feverish feeling

3. Jaundice

4. Additional symptoms are associated with this disease:

- Abdominal fullness
- Excessive abdominal indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heartburn, gas, flatulence
- Clay coloured stools

In practice, doctors usually perform an inspection plus a manual test (called Murphy) of your right upper quadrant to determine if Murphy's sign is positive.

In my traditional Chinese medicine clinic, I've found that it is important to eliminate other ailments such as Surgical Abdomen (sudden onset of severe pain), peptic ulcer disease, acute appendicitis or other causes of abdominal pain.

If Murphy's sign is positive, doctors will need to confirm that you do have gallstones, so they will request certain tests to be performed.

Depending on your condition at the time, the following tests may be necessary:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal X-ray
• Oral cholecystogram
• Gallbladder radionuclide scan
• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
• Alkaline phosphatase (usually elevated)