Neck Pain
The article is meant to provide general information instead of diagnosis because each individual is different. For specific assessment, please feel free to call 403-233-0498 to arrange an appointment for assessment.
(Neck pain may be a symptom of more than 100 conditions. This article discusses only common conditions that are treatable with acupuncture.)
Neck pain can originate from organs, arteries, the brain, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, bones, or discs, or from a combination of these.
Common causes may include injuries, whiplash, infections, inflammation, nerve entrapment, degeneration, autoimmune dysfunction, or conditions of unknown origin like fibromyalgia.
Neck pain from the above-mentioned origins may be treated with acupuncture for symptom relief, though the prognosis varies depending on the underlying cause.
Neck pain often follows injury or trauma, but it can also be caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis, cervical scoliosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine. As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which reduces their ability to cushion the vertebrae.
Very often, neck pain seems to appear out of nowhere. The culprit is often accumulated physical and emotional stress, strain, and years of poor posture and bad body mechanics. The triggering incident may be so trivial as to go unnoticed. Other times, pain occurs when someone lifts something too heavy or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the neck.
When the spine is overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This can put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. When these nerves become compressed or irritated, neck pain results. Occasionally it may produce sharp, pins-and-needles, or numbness sensations radiating down one arm.
Sometimes, buildup of scar tissue from repeated injuries or chronic inflammation weakens the neck and can lead to more chronic pain.
Neck pain is sometimes associated with headaches, especially tension headaches.
Occasionally, neck pain may indicate more serious medical problems. Pain accompanied by vision disturbance, loss of balance, or vertigo may indicate a compressed spinal cord. Fever or acute dizziness or nausea may suggest infection or another serious condition. If this is the first time you experience such symptoms, please see your family doctor to prevent further complications.
Due to the complexity of neck pain, it is difficult to give universal self-care advice, such as whether to use a heat or cold pack, to rest or exercise, or to immobilize or move the area.
Improper care during a flare-up may worsen or complicate the condition. If you are experiencing neck pain now, please seek professional advice or call us at (403) 233-0498.
Once tightness, stiffness, or pain subsides, you may start stretching exercises to maintain joint and muscle flexibility, strength, and endurance to help prevent recurrence.
Certain movements are contraindicated for some conditions. Please seek professional help for a tailored stretching exercise program.
Acupuncture offers fast relief that can be effective within minutes to hours for neck pain through four mechanisms:
Desensitizing nerve sensation.
Improving local microcirculation for faster healing.
Reducing inflammation, if present.
Relaxing muscle spasms, if present.
Through functional MRI research on the neurophysiological evidence of acupuncture mechanisms in the United States, acupuncture appears to inactivate brain regions involved in the transmission and perception of pain. The data suggest that acupuncture stimulation desensitizes or reduces activation in cortical areas believed to be involved with pain signal processing, thereby alleviating pain perception. The data support the efficacy of acupuncture in pain relief and the biological basis of acupuncture analgesia.
$95/session, $45 consultation. 30-45 minute initial consultation.
Alberta Health Care does not cover acupuncture. Most company benefits cover acupuncture when treatment is provided through a Registered Acupuncturist. Contact your HR department or insurance company for coverage details.
Acupuncture treatment for pain relief has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a treatment that may be beneficial. It has helped many patients with neck pain. It is a reasonable natural modality with the potential to help. “It works for many” does not mean “it works for you.” As for you, there is only one way to find out.
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