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Neck pain is another common reason why patients seek support from a health professional. It’s easy to take an over-the-counter painkiller, but the underlying issues won’t be resolved, and the problem may worsen. 

For effective chronic neck pain treatment, detailed health history and examination are required. Chinese medicine requires that your practitioner determines whether body constitution, emotions, diet, excess work, physical trauma, and hormones are contributing factors in your individual case. Together with the timing of occurrence, location, triggers, and other factors, this information is used to construct a treatment plan that works with you and your body’s unique needs. 

Common causes of neck pain

Your neck has seven vertebrae (spinal bones), with eight spinal nerves that travel to and from your arms. There is also a number of muscles that run from the top to bottom of your neck, or to your shoulders or even down to your lower back.

It supports the weight of the head, ensures its movement in various directions, and contributes to normal orientation in space. It is based on the 7 cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles and ligaments. The vulnerability of the neck to strain often leads to pain.

Neck pain can be caused by a variety of reasons.

  1. Improper posture – can cause strain on the neck muscles.
  2. Injuries and sudden movements – can cause sprains and damage to the cervical vertebrae.
  3. Age-related changes – osteoarthritis and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.
  4. Herniated discs or bony growths - pinching of nerve roots.
  5. Overuse and muscle strain from long hours of performing seated work (e.g. typing or sewing) or overhead work are common causes.

Life Balance Clinic in Chicago offers a safe and effective method of treating neck pain of various etiologies with acupuncture, based on ancient Eastern practices. Acupuncture for neck pain allows you to cope not only with the pain syndrome, but also with the cause of its development.

How acupuncture works for neck pain

Acupuncture is an ancient method of treatment which, by applying acupuncture to specific points on the body, restores the balance of energy (qi) and stimulates the body's natural healing processes. According to the definition of Chinese medicine, energy in the body circulates through specific meridians (channels). When they are blocked or imbalanced, discomfort and pain syndrome appear. The main principle of TCM is to restore the normal flow of energy through the meridians.

Acupuncture helps to remove blockages and restore balance in the body, which promotes rapid recovery.

Acupuncture points for treating neck pain

For neck pain, acupuncture stimulates certain points on a person's body associated with the neck channels and muscles. Which helps to:

  • eliminate headaches and back pain;
  • relieve spasms;
  • reduce tension and improve mobility of the neck muscles;
  • improve blood circulation;
  • relieve pain and inflammation in the head and neck;
  • improve overall energy circulation.

Compared to long-term drug therapy, where treatment is based mainly on cumulative effects, acupuncture provides immediate relief, or completely eliminates not only the pain but also its cause in a few sessions.

Benefits of Acupuncture for neck pain

The use of acupuncture to relieve neck pain has a number of significant benefits.

  • Acupuncture affects not only the place of localization of pain, but also ensures the coordination of the entire body, eliminating the imbalance that provokes the problem.
  • It does not require the use of medication, which helps to avoid side effects. 
  • The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating various types of pain has been confirmed by many studies.
  • The results of acupuncture treatment are preserved for a long time, which helps to reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

In addition, acupuncture sessions promote deep relaxation of the body, which has a positive effect on general well-being and helps to cope with stress, which often provokes chronic pain.

Other treatment options for neck pain using traditional Chinese medicine

In addition to acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers several effective options for treating neck pain.

1. Tuina Massage - includes various massage techniques aimed at relieving muscle tension and restoring the flow of energy (qi) by method, pressure rubbing and stretching. These techniques:

  • relieves muscle spasms and tension;
  • improves blood circulation and accelerates tissue repair;
  • restores mobility of the neck and shoulder girdle;
  • promotes general relaxation and eliminates energy blockages.

2. Cupping therapy is a therapy using special jars placed on the skin. The jars create a vacuum effect on the skin, which helps to:

  • improving blood circulation in the affected area;
  • reduce inflammation and pain and accelerate healing;
  • relieve tension and improve mobility;
  • improvement of lymphatic drainage and removal of toxins from the body. 

To achieve a more pronounced and lasting effect, both of these methods are often used in combination with acupuncture, which allows achieving not only the relief of pathological symptoms, but also to restore complete harmony in the body.

Contraindications of Chinese Medicine

Contraindications to the use of Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic neck pain include:

  • acute injuries;
  • infections;
  • spinal cord problems (nodules). 

If you have comorbidities, consult your doctor first.

The Life Balance Clinic Approach to Neck Pain Treatment

Life Balance Clinic offers a holistic approach to TCM use for chronic neck pain. Dr. Vadim Dekhtyar, DACM treats all of his patients on an individualized basis, taking a complete picture of your history and current health to find the best treatment plan. He has also completed continuing education on acupuncture for pain.

Our basic approach to treating neck pain, is:

  • In-depth diagnostics based on TCM methods.
  • Individual complex treatment program for each patient.
  • Guarantee of safety and comfort for the patient at every stage of treatment.
  • Ensuring long-term results and preventing recurrence of pathological symptoms.

Contact our clinic and make an appointment for a consultation with our leading specialist - Vadim Dehtyar, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. His specialized knowledge of traditional medicine allows him to successfully combine modern and ancient treatment methods and effectively deal not only with the physical symptomatology and chronic problems, but also with the psychological state of the client, which makes the treatment more effective.