Acupuncture Neck Pain Relief

In acupuncture, neck pain is a common complaint that can be experienced on one side of the neck or on both sides of the neck. In many cases, the upper back and the back of the skull are also affected.

Considering that the weight of the head is supported by the neck and that most movements of the head include neck movements, you can see how the neck is easily vulnerable to injury.

So what exactly is wrong with our neck when we have neck pain?

Below are some of the common problems I've experienced in my acupuncture clinic.

And if you'd like to know how neck pain is treated in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, please click here.

Simple Stiff Neck

This is an acute, episodic, localised pain in the neck that often appears on awakening and can last between 1 to 4 days. There are no dermatomal radiation. Signs include local muscular tenderness and pain on certain movements.

Aching Neck

This is a persistent dull aching in the back of the neck, often spreading to the occiput (back of theskull). A common cause of aching neck is postural strain, such as in prolonged reading, typing or studying or during activities that require sustained muscle contraction.

An aching neck may accompany tension and depression. Signs include local muscular tenderness. Care should be taken here to eliminate a diagnosis of Fibromayalgia.

Cervical Sprain

This is an acute flare-up or recurrent neck pains that are more severe and last longer than a simple stiff neck or an aching neck. Whiplash injury, heavy lifting, or sudden movement can precipitate a cervical sprain. There is local tenderness and pain on movement. There are no dermatomal radiation.

Neck Pain with Dermatomal Radiation

This can follow cervical sprain of the neck with radiation of pain to the shoulder, back or arm in a dermatomal distribution.

This radicular pain is typically sharp, burning or tingling in quality.

The cause can be compression of one or more nerve roots due to a herniated cervical disc or even degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs with bony spurring.

Signs are muscle tenderness and spasm, limited range of movement, increase in pain when coughing or straining, possible sensory loss, weakness, muscular atrophy and decreased reflexes in the areas involved.

It is important to keep in mind that tumours or abscesses of the cervial spinal cord can be a cause of neck pain with dermatomal radiation although they are less common.

Neck Pain from possible Compression of the Cervical Spinal Cord

This compression of the spinal cord in the neck is caused by either trauma, a herniated disc or degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs with bony spurring.

Neck pain may be mild or even absent. There is limited range of motion in the neck and radicular signs in the arms may be present.

Again, tumours or abscesses of the cervical spinal cord should be ruled out.

Associated signs are weakness or paralysis of the legs (yes the legs) of the central nervous system type, often with a decrease in loss of sensation, loss of position and vibration sense in the legs. Babinski test is positive. Loss of pain and temperature sensation is less common.

------

A note of caution.

Neck pain can sometimes overlap with and should not be confused with Fibromyalgia. Both conditions are treated differently in acupuncture.

The main areas affected in fibromyalgia are the neck, shoulders, hands, lower back and knees. The ache or pain can shift unpredictably or it can worsen when the patient is immobile, in excessive use or when the body is cold.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that reflects in widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points on the body that can accompany other diseases. Morning stiffness and morning fatigue is associated with disturbance of sleep. Characteristically, patients vaguely describe pain as ‘all over the body.’ This vagueness is in itself a clue for fibromyalgia.

------

P.S:

If you find this website useful, feel free to recommend it to a friend.