Chronic Neck Pain: Understanding the Root Causes Beyond Muscles and Joints

Chronic neck pain can be frustrating, especially when massage, stretching, adjustments, or other treatments only provide temporary relief. While muscles and joints can certainly contribute to neck pain, there may be other factors worth considering when the problem continues to return.

The body functions as a connected system. Internal issues involving hormones, liver health, the immune system, and gut health may contribute to muscle dysfunction and, ultimately, chronic neck pain.

Why Does Chronic Neck Pain Keep Coming Back?

When neck pain improves temporarily after an adjustment, massage, or stretching but eventually returns, it may be a sign that something beyond the neck itself needs to be considered.

The muscles, fascia, nervous system, organs, and other tissues have connections throughout the body. When an internal system becomes dysfunctional, it may influence associated muscles and contribute to weakness or imbalance.

When certain muscles stop functioning properly, other muscles may compensate. Over time, this can contribute to tightness, restricted movement, and pain.

This is why simply treating the painful area may not always resolve chronic neck pain.

The Connection Between Hormones, Liver Health, and Neck Pain

Hormonal health is one area that may play a role in chronic neck pain.

The liver plays an important role in processing hormones, and the rhomboid muscles have a connection with liver function. When the rhomboids are not functioning properly, shoulder blade stability can be affected.

When the shoulder blade isn’t properly stabilized, surrounding muscles, including the traps and muscles around the neck, may have to compensate.

This can contribute to chronic neck tightness and discomfort.

Hormonal issues can also involve blood sugar regulation, particularly insulin and cortisol. These hormones and other steroid hormones rely on pathways involved in the body’s detoxification processes.

Supporting nutrition, blood sugar regulation, and the pathways involved in hormone processing may therefore be an important consideration when addressing certain types of chronic neck pain.

Could Your Immune System Be Connected to Your Neck Pain?

The immune system can also have an impact on muscle function and inflammation.

The lower trapezius muscles have a connection with the spleen and immune system. When these muscles aren’t functioning properly, maintaining proper shoulder positioning can become more difficult.

This may contribute to what many people describe as poor posture.

Rather than viewing posture as the sole cause of neck pain, it can be helpful to consider why the muscles responsible for maintaining proper shoulder positioning may not be providing adequate support in the first place.

Inflammation and immune system stress may contribute to muscle tension and chronic pain as well.

Movement is one basic way to support overall health. Walking, getting adequate movement throughout the day, and spending time outside can all be part of a healthy lifestyle that supports the immune system.

The Gut Health and Chronic Neck Pain Connection

Gut health is another area worth considering when dealing with chronic neck pain.

Digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and an upset stomach are sometimes overlooked because people become accustomed to experiencing them.

Gut imbalances involving bacteria, fungus, parasites, and food sensitivities may also affect the nervous system and contribute to muscle dysfunction.

Nutrition is an important starting point for supporting gut health. Focusing on whole foods can help provide the body with the nutrients it needs while reducing the intake of foods that may contribute to inflammation.

For individuals experiencing bloating and gas, a low-FODMAP approach may also be helpful. In some situations, additional support may be needed for bacterial, fungal, or parasite-related imbalances.

What Can You Do at Home?

Improving shoulder stability and activating the muscles that support the neck may be helpful for some people experiencing chronic neck pain.

One exercise involves using a light resistance band around the wrists while performing a push-up-type movement. The movement encourages engagement of the rhomboids, traps, rotator cuff muscles, and other muscles involved in shoulder stability.

Another exercise involves lying face down with the arms extended overhead and bringing the arms backward while focusing on thoracic extension and lower-trap engagement.

These movements can help activate muscles involved in shoulder stability. If neck movement or discomfort changes after activating these muscles, it may provide a clue that shoulder stability and muscle function are contributing to the problem.

Is Poor Posture Really the Cause?

Poor posture is often blamed for chronic neck pain, but posture may be more complicated than simply sitting or standing incorrectly.

If the muscles responsible for supporting the shoulder blades aren’t functioning properly, other muscles may have to compensate. This can contribute to tightness and discomfort around the shoulders and neck.

For this reason, addressing muscle function may be just as important as addressing posture itself.

What About a Straight Neck?

A straight neck does not automatically mean someone should experience neck pain.

The shape or curve of the neck should not necessarily be viewed as the sole cause of someone’s symptoms. Muscle function, myofascial connections, and other contributing factors may also need to be considered.

Exercises and adjustments may be helpful, but addressing muscle dysfunction and potential underlying contributors can be important when symptoms continue to return.

Can Arthritis Cause Chronic Neck Pain?

Arthritis may contribute to neck pain, but inflammation is another important factor to consider.

Structural changes visible on an X-ray may not completely disappear, but addressing inflammatory factors may still help reduce pain and improve how someone feels.

This is another reason chronic neck pain shouldn’t necessarily be viewed only as a structural problem.

Why Do Massage and Adjustments Sometimes Only Help Temporarily?

Massage and adjustments can be useful for improving muscle and joint function and helping the area feel better.

However, if an underlying issue continues to contribute to muscle dysfunction, the symptoms may return.

This can create a cycle where someone repeatedly treats the neck, experiences temporary relief, and then develops the same symptoms again.

When neck pain continues to come back, it may be worth looking beyond the location of the pain itself.

Looking at the Body as One Connected System

Chronic neck pain isn’t always simply a neck problem.

Potential contributing factors can include:

• Hormonal health

• Liver and gallbladder function

• Immune system health

• Gut health

• Nervous system function

• Shoulder stability

• Muscle weakness and compensation

• Myofascial dysfunction

• Inflammation

Every person’s situation is different, and not every case of neck pain will have the same underlying contributors.

However, when neck pain is chronic or repeatedly returns despite temporary relief, looking at the body as a connected system may provide another perspective on what could be contributing to the problem.

Addressing the factors contributing to muscle dysfunction, while also supporting proper movement and muscle function, may help create longer-lasting improvements in chronic neck pain.

If you are considering taking a prescription medication or adding any new therapies or supplements, be sure to communicate and work with a medical professional.