Neck pain can be quite constraining. In addition to the discomfort and reduced range of motion, there is also the draining vigilance the body undergoes to help protect the neck.
Typically the pain we experience in the neck is going to be related to the muscles or structural issues in the vertebrae.
The most common causes of neck pain are physical injuries (eg. sports injury, whiplash from a car accident) and chronic posture issues or repetitive motions (eg. working for long periods bent over a computer, dental industry workers bent over patients). Chronic stress can often cause people to stiffen up in the upper shoulders and neck resulting in neck pain as well.
The neck packs a lot of anatomy in a small square footage: critical blood vessels, the esophagus and trachea, spinal vertebrae, the spinal cord, endocrine glands, and muscles to help the head and neck stay upright. In Chinese Medicine the neck is also a busy thoroughfare with eight meridians (the channels that carry qi) having acupuncture points located on it.
The gentle treatment methods I use to help with neck pain are distal needling, which I often use in conjunction with manual therapies as needed.
Distal needling in the acupuncture world refers to inserting needles at a location that is a distance from the issue of treatment. For example, in the case of neck pain, first the meridian(s) that is affected in the neck would be determined. Then active acupuncture points in “distal” locations such as in the wrist or ankle areas would be assessed to treat the neck pain. After insertion at these distal sites, the active neck pain and range of motion can be assessed for improvement immediately. Patients are often surprised by their own bodies seemingly “illogical” response to distal needling. The rationale for distal needling is to treat the unwell meridian with a meridian in a distal location that has the ability to improve the unwell meridian. The added benefit of distal needling is not needing to needle the local painful and sensitive area for the patient, and typically a result that lasts longer than local needling.
Some patients experience significant improvement with distal needling alone. In other cases, manual therapies in conjunction with acupuncture can greatly assist.
The manual therapies I use would fall under the broad category of Tui Na, which are hands-on therapeutic techniques based on the theories of Chinese Medicine. One of the techniques is called Yin Tui Na and it is a very subtle and forceless manual therapy used to assist self-healing. Another technique would be considered “regular” Tui Na and helps to reduce and reset muscle tension in an area.
Patients’ bodies and response to treatment vary greatly. The techniques I choose to use during the treatment are geared towards their best outcome as well as their response during the treatment session.
So if you have a pain in your neck, consider coming in to have it treated!
