If you’re constantly struggling with neck stiffness, shoulder discomfort, or that dull, nagging ache behind your shoulder blade, you might assume it’s a spinal or muscular problem. You’re not alone—many people try massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, stretching routines, or even physical therapy, only to find that the relief is temporary or incomplete.

I personally went through the same frustration, even studying chiropractic care hoping to solve my own shoulder issue. Yet the pain never truly disappeared. The reason? Most of us, including many health professionals, focus on treating the symptom instead of uncovering the root cause.

Surprisingly, that root cause may not be in your neck or back at all—it could be coming from your liver and gallbladder. Dr. Eric Berg and other functional health experts have highlighted this fascinating connection, and understanding it could completely change how you approach chronic upper-body pain.

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The Gallbladder–Liver–Neck Pain Connection

Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ nestled just beneath your right rib cage. Its primary role is to store and concentrate bile, a fluid produced by your liver. When you eat, especially fatty foods, your gallbladder contracts and releases bile into your small intestine to help emulsify and digest fats.

Bile is made of cholesterol, bile salts, and other compounds. When cholesterol becomes too high or bile salts are too low, this delicate balance is disrupted. Before gallstones even form, a thick substance known as bile sludge can develop. This sludge can block or slow the flow of bile through tiny ducts between the liver and gallbladder.

When those ducts become congested, they can create pressure that irritates the phrenic nerve—a long nerve running from your diaphragm up to your neck and shoulder region. Because of this nerve connection, your body can “misinterpret” the source of pain. Instead of feeling it in your abdomen, you experience referred pain in your neck, upper back, or shoulders.

So, while you might think your problem is a tight muscle or a pinched nerve, it could actually be your liver and gallbladder sending distress signals upward.

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Key Insights

• Referred Pain: Pain that originates in one part of the body but is felt elsewhere. In this case, gallbladder or liver congestion can create discomfort in the neck and shoulder region.

• Phrenic Nerve Connection: This nerve links the diaphragm with the shoulders and neck, explaining why organ-related issues can manifest as upper-body pain.

• Bile Sludge: A thickened, sluggish bile that precedes gallstones and can create pressure or inflammation.

• Root Cause Awareness: Many cases of neck and shoulder pain stem from dietary and metabolic imbalances rather than purely structural problems.

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What Causes Gallbladder or Liver Congestion?

Several everyday factors can interfere with bile flow and liver function, ultimately leading to this referred pain pattern:

1. Poor Diet: Consuming processed foods, refined carbs, and excess sugar overloads the liver, reduces bile quality, and promotes fat buildup.

2. Hormonal Imbalances: Especially in women, estrogen dominance—often from birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy—can slow bile flow.

3. Medications: Certain drugs, such as statins, antibiotics, or antidepressants, can stress the liver or disrupt bile production.

4. Alcohol: Chronic drinking damages liver cells and reduces the organ’s ability to produce healthy bile.

5. Nutrient Deficiencies: Low levels of key minerals like zinc, magnesium, and choline can reduce bile efficiency and contribute to liver stagnation.

6. Chronic Stress: Elevated cortisol levels over time can indirectly impact digestion and bile secretion, worsening the cycle of congestion.

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How to Relieve Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain at the Source

If your pain stems from gallbladder or liver congestion, simply treating the muscles or joints won’t solve the problem. True healing requires supporting your body’s ability to produce and move bile efficiently.

1. Adjust Your Diet

• Eliminate Processed Foods: Remove refined sugars, flours, seed oils, and fast food. Instead, eat whole, unprocessed foods that nourish your liver.

• Increase Bitter Vegetables: Foods like arugula, kale, dandelion greens, and radicchio stimulate bile flow naturally.

• Support Bile Production: Add taurine-rich foods such as fish, shellfish, and eggs. Taurine helps create bile salts that thin out sluggish bile.

• Stay Hydrated: Adequate water intake helps maintain fluid bile consistency.

2. Consider Supplements (with professional guidance)

• TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid): A specialized bile salt that can thin bile sludge and support liver detoxification.

• Taurine: A key amino acid for bile synthesis and liver function.

• Choline and Lecithin: Support fat metabolism and prevent bile thickening.

3. Lifestyle Support

• Moderate exercise, regular meals, and stress-reducing activities like yoga or deep breathing all help your liver function optimally.

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A Simple 30-Second Self-Test

Here’s a quick way to check if your neck and shoulder pain might be liver- or gallbladder-related:

1. Locate the Area: Place your hand under your right rib cage, where the liver and gallbladder sit.

2. Apply Pressure: Gently press or massage the area.

3. Observe the Response: If your neck or shoulder pain decreases while pressing, it’s a strong sign that your discomfort is referred from the liver or gallbladder region.

Many people are amazed by how quickly the tension fades once the congestion starts to release. It’s a powerful indicator that the pain source lies deeper than the muscles.

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Final Thoughts

Even ancient physicians recognized bile as a central marker of health, long before modern science confirmed its importance in fat digestion and detoxification. When bile becomes thick, stagnant, or insufficient, your entire system can feel the effects—sometimes in surprising ways.

If your pain doesn’t ease with the self-test, the root cause may be structural, such as posture imbalance or muscular tension. In that case, explore physical therapy, targeted exercises, or ergonomic improvements.

But if this connection resonates with your experience, it’s worth focusing on your diet, liver health, and bile flow. By addressing these internal factors, you can often eliminate years of unexplained neck and shoulder pain—naturally and for good.