Neck pain is one of the most common problems I treat in my acupuncture practice. Sometimes the cause is obvious—a long day at the computer, a hard workout or sleeping in a bad position. But chronic neck pain is often more complicated.
Tight muscles may be part of the problem, but pain can also be disc-related. What does this mean? A disc (the squishy pad between your vertebrae) can sometimes move to where it shouldn't be. When that happens, that disc tissue can push (impinge) on the nerves that exit the spinal cord. This creates neck pain locally and can cause radiculopathies (nerve pain that refers somewhere else like your shoulder blade).
The Good News!
Even though you may be in a significant amount of discomfort, you will likely fully heal and be pain-free again. The body is amazing at metabolizing disc tissue, so your body is already working for you to resolve the issues.
"But, I'm still in pain." Acupuncture can help! Acupuncture locally (near the spine and in the neck muscles) can calm nerve irritation, relieve muscle tightness and spasm, and improve overall circulation to the tissue. Acupuncture on the wrists and ankles can also treat neck pain via an acpuncture 'body-mapping' technique I use.
Moreover we can use acupuncture to relieve stress, support digestion and immunity, relieve headaches and so much more! If you're afraid of needles, don't be! They are SO tiny and I am really good it so I promise you'll have a good experience.
Why Else Could Your Neck Hurt?
Your neck has to perform two somewhat competing jobs: it needs to be stable enough to protect your spinal cord and nerves, but mobile enough to allow your head to move freely.
Common causes of neck pain include:
- Muscle tension and trigger points
- Prolonged computer and phone use
- Joint irritation and arthritis
- Degenerative disc changes
- Cervical spinal or foraminal stenosis
- Disc bulges or herniations
- Sports and exercise injuries
- Previous whiplash or other trauma
Sometimes the pain stays in the neck. Other times it travels into the shoulder blade, shoulder, arm or hand. Numbness, tingling or weakness can indicate that a cervical nerve is involved.
How Acupuncture Helps Neck Pain
When I treat neck pain, I'm not simply putting needles wherever it hurts. The goal is to determine which muscles, joints and nerve pathways appear to be involved and then treat the pattern that's producing the pain. IN ADDITION, I am always seeking to calm the overall nervous system. Pain triggers stress responses, thereby aggravating the pain cycel.
Acupuncture can be used to reduce muscle guarding, improve local circulation, stimulate the nervous system and activate the body's own pain-modulating mechanisms.
For orthopedic conditions, I may also incorporate techniques such as electrical stimulation or cupping when appropriate.
More About Pinched Nerves
If a nerve is irritated as it exits the cervical spine, you may feel symptoms somewhere else entirely. A problem originating in the neck can produce pain around the shoulder blade, tingling down the arm, numbness in the fingers or even weakness in certain muscles.
In these cases, treating only the tight spot in your shoulder may provide temporary relief without addressing the primary problem.
That's why I evaluate the neck, shoulder and upper extremity together. If your symptoms suggest significant nerve compression or another condition requiring medical evaluation, imaging or referral, I'll tell you that too.
What About Arthritis and Stenosis?
Acupuncture can't make arthritis disappear or physically enlarge a narrowed spinal canal. But structural changes on an MRI don't always correlate perfectly with how much pain someone experiences.
There may still be treatable components around the structural problem: inflammation, muscle guarding, restricted movement and heightened sensitivity of the nervous system.
I've written more about this in How Acupuncture Helps Arthritis & Spinal Stenosis.
Don't Forget Strength and Movement
Acupuncture can be extremely helpful for reducing pain and restoring movement, but I don't want my patients to become dependent on treatment.
Once the acute pain settles down, strengthening, mobility work, good ergonomics and regular exercise become increasingly important. The long-term goal is not simply to have a neck that doesn't hurt—it's to have a neck and upper body that are strong enough to handle your life.
When Should You Have Neck Pain Evaluated?
Persistent pain deserves attention, particularly if you have pain traveling into an arm, numbness, tingling, progressive weakness, loss of coordination or symptoms following significant trauma. Sudden severe symptoms or neurologic changes require prompt medical evaluation.
Ready to Do Something About Your Neck Pain?
I've been treating orthopedic and spine conditions for more than two decades. At Peninsula Acupuncture, we'll evaluate what's driving your symptoms and develop a treatment plan based on your particular condition rather than simply treating "neck pain" as though everyone has the same problem.
Learn more about our approach to back, neck and joint pain or contact Peninsula Acupuncture in Mountain View to schedule an appointment.
Ted Ray
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