1. Community
  2. Liver and gallbladder
  3. Gallbladder Problems

Any help/relief out there for intense neck pain due to gallbladder issues?

Posted , 5 users are following.

bluegirl15
bluegirl15

Hi. I've been having the normal stomach pain issues associated with gallstones or bad gallbladders for about three weeks. Started off with a small attack one day, then wouldn't have another for a couple days. It progressed until I now I have one a day, if not two, despite eating bland, as fat-free as possible food. 

Went to my PCP last week, and she strongly believes it will be my gallbladder as the culprit. I have an ultrasound in two days to check for stones. She already ordered the HIDA scan so that if the ultrasound shows nothing, I can immediately schedule the scan. 

But yesterday, I woke with what I thought was a kink in my neck. The pain started off mild but progressed throughout the day. I tried a couple of yoga videos to stretch it out, and then put alternating heat and ice on it. Nothing helped. The area is hot to the touch.

I read last night about the phrenic nerve and how it's connected from the neck to the gallbladder. I suspect this is the cause of the neck pain. I'm just wondering if anyone has found any relief for this pain. I'm at the point where I can mentally ride out the stomach pain for a few hours, but this constant neck pain is already wearing on me. I work at a desk and on a computer all day.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • biliarydyskines
    biliarydyskines bluegirl15

    Posted

    I had neck pain on and off when my gb was not working confirmed by HIDA scan...but it was the whole neck...but after few years when I foundi also got gallstones...I got horrible fullness in my stomach and acide reflux to throat and right side neck pain( where neck meets the shoulder) and I have a pain at back above the hips on right side.Its on and off, nothing worked so far.
    • bluegirl15
      bluegirl15 biliarydyskines

      Posted

      Yeah, my pain is concentrated on the right side too. Starts just below my ear and goes down to the top of my shoulder blade. The worst of the pain is if I tip my head backward. 

      They found stones and scan showed gb not working but you still have pain. Have you not had the gb out? It's only been three weeks of the stomach pain and two days of the neck pain, and I can't imagine having this going on for years. 

    • biliarydyskines
      biliarydyskines bluegirl15

      Posted

      My gb was not working since 2011, compared to my neck pain I felt very bloated, burping and dizziness symptoms. So I was managing with my neck pain, that too comes when digestion is very bad. Doctors advised to remove, bcoz I was not having severe pain in my gallbladder area and dizziness was my worst symptoms during that time and I also got diagnosed with gastritis and I still got dizziness.

      After 6 years I got gallstones , so last 4 months the burping and bloating is some what different and it's permanent for almost 2 months now with managable pain on my gallbladder area and neck and my back.

      My main concern right now is fullness feeling all the time, bloated and I need to burp myself to get relieved by gas pressure and tightning on my right side. Doctors feels I have 50 % chances of going back to normal as they feel still I may have issues with gastritis.So still on sidelines...but compared to these 6 years with the non working gb, the bloating,burping and pain is entirely different since gallstones formed. Do you got bloating, burping and dizziness too in addition to neck pain and gallbladder pain?

    • bluegirl15
      bluegirl15 biliarydyskines

      Posted

      Yep, lots and lots of bloating and burping in addition to the pain. Luckily, I've only had two spells of dizziness. I think those were because I had yet to find anything I could eat and not have pain, so I wasn't eating much those days. 

      Burping and passing gas doesn't seem to help relieve the pain at all. I've found keeping a heating pad on my stomach during the really bad moments helps a little. It's not much help but anything is better than nothing.  

    • biliarydyskines
      biliarydyskines bluegirl15

      Posted

      Burping and passing gas only removes the pressure in stomach and makes easy to breath..it does not get rid of the pain.My whole body is lean but my stomach is like balloon.are you planning to go for surgery?
    • bluegirl15
      bluegirl15 biliarydyskines

      Posted

      If the ultrasound come back as my doctor predicts, then yes. These weeks, especially this last week, have been miserable. I've only found about five foods that cause no pain whatsoever. If this was a once in a while pain, probably would be fine long term without removal. But it's been every day for two weeks plus now the neck pain. I lead a pretty active life, and it's not possible for me to do the things I enjoy in my current condition. 

      Also, my mother, grandmother and aunt all had to have theirs removed. So it's not entirely unexpected that it would come to this for me too. 

    • joanne_14554
      joanne_14554 biliarydyskines

      Posted

      Hi I’ve had all the same symptoms you have mentioned and the dizziness can, make me feel like I’m going to pass out. I have to sit until it passes. I get bloating and pain in my lower back, neck shoulders and stomach generally that also radiates to my arms, most places. I take pain medication every day to manage. I used to get really wound up with these symptoms when I did not know what was wrong with me. I first got diagnosed that it was arthritis! Then after many months trip to a& E eventually got scanned they found the gallbladder stone size of a golf ball that’s what they told me, I’m on the urgent list for the operation now. Got an endoscopy this Friday🤣 I hope things improve for you, it’s not an easy time with this, but don’t feel alone. Always speak to health professionals if really worried about anything, that’s really concerning you. Don’t suffer in silence. 

  • barbara37001
    barbara37001 bluegirl15

    Posted

    Hi there yes suffered rotten phrenic nerve pain right shoulder blade up into my neck the doctors never seemed to take this serious I had to look it up myself and seemed lots of people get it ! this was going on for about  6 months now , had a few stones out of bile duct shoulder pain and neck pain gone thank goodness ! Just now sitting with hot water bottle the gas they blew me up with seemed to really bug my intestines 13 days later another 3 nites in hospital with pancreatitis, I have cramps and loose motions now when will it all end I say . Good luck 😉 

    • bluegirl15
      bluegirl15 barbara37001

      Posted

      Thanks! Yeah, when I saw my primary doctor, the neck/shoulder pain hadn't started so that kind of symptom didn't come up in our conversation. 

      Was just hoping to find some kind of stretch, position or something that could help relieve the pain, or at least soften the pain. Took some over the counter pain pills and they didn't help in the slightest. 

  • barbara37001
    barbara37001 bluegirl15

    Posted

    Hi there I tried the stretch fount it on line I'm afraid it didn't help the inky think was after gallstone removal from bile duct that pain in back went obviously the phrenic nerve ! After removal of stones felt rotten had to be admitted to hospital with cholengitis fever , pain , nauseas ,and loose stools they gave me antibiotics sent me home 2 days later little better , have to see surgeon on Friday Eeeek ! I'm in England NHS is in crisis 💐

  • lisawilly
    lisawilly bluegirl15

    Posted

    I can share what worked for me.. i had severe pain under my right shoulder blade, going up into my neck. Unbearable pain! I was able to google homeopathic treatment and found the main remedy they mentioned for gall bladder pain on the right side i just happened to have (bought it for my ducks for something completely unrelated!) , took a dose and within 5 minutes or less the pain was gone completely and I haven't had a recurrence. My doc thinks i may have passed a stone. Anyway the remedy is chelidonium 30c. I think any potency would work, i just happened to have the 30c.

    I hope this helps. For the cost of a homeopathic remedy (cheap as chips ) it's worth a shot.

    I hope this helps.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.