Shoulder Pain After Eating? How Acupuncture May Help Digestive-Related Pain
What Is Referred Shoulder Pain? Many people think shoulder pain only comes from poor posture, exercise injuries, or muscle strain. However, some cases of shoulder pain may actually start in the stomach, diaphragm, gallbladder, or digestive system. This is called referred pain , which means the body feels pain in one area even though the real problem starts somewhere else. How the Gut and Shoulder Are Connected The connection between the gut and shoulder often happens through the diaphragm and the phrenic nerve . The diaphragm is the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing. When the stomach becomes bloated, the gallbladder becomes inflamed, or the abdomen becomes irritated, the diaphragm may also become irritated. The phrenic nerve carries these pain signals to the same area of the spinal cord that is linked with the shoulder. Because of this, the brain may feel pain in the shoulder even though the actual issue is in the abdomen. Digestive Problems That May ...