What is neck pain (cervicalgia)?
Neck pain, sometimes called cervicalgia, is pain in or around your spine beneath your head. Your neck is also known as your cervical spine. Neck pain is a common symptom of many different injuries and medical conditions.
You might have axial neck pain (felt mostly in your neck) or radicular neck pain (pain that shoots into other areas, such as your shoulders or arms). It can be acute (lasting from days to six weeks) or chronic (lasting longer than three months).
Neck pain can interfere with your daily activities and reduce your quality of life if it’s not treated.
What does neck pain feel like?
Some people describe the pain as:
- A persistent ache.
- A stabbing or burning pain.
- A shooting pain that travels from their neck to their shoulders or arms.
Other symptoms
Neck pain may involve other symptoms, including:
- Headache.
- Stiffness in your neck, shoulders and upper back.
- Being unable to turn your neck or tilt your head.
- Numbness or tingling (pins and needles) feeling in your shoulders or arms.
Neck pain is common, affecting 10% to 20% of adults. It’s more common in women. Your chance of developing it increases with age.
Possible Causes
What are the possible causes of neck pain?
Neck pain has many potential causes, including:
- Aging: As you age, natural wear and tear can cause parts of your cervical spine to deteriorate, or degenerate, causing pain. Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis (the wearing down of joint cartilage) and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spaces in your spine) can lead to neck pain. Over time, stress and repeated movements can cause the disks in your spine to weaken, causing a herniated disk or pinched nerve.
- Physical strain: Overusing your neck muscles during repetitive or strenuous activities can lead to stiffness and pain. Poor posture, weak abdominal muscles and heavier body weight can affect your spine’s alignment and contribute to neck pain. For example, straining your neck to view a computer screen for long periods is a common cause of neck pain.
- Mental stress: Tightening your neck muscles because you’re stressed can lead to neck pain and stiffness. Many people who tighten these muscles when they’re stressed or agitated don’t realize they do it until their neck starts hurting.
- Injury: Trauma and other injuries can damage muscles, ligaments, disks, vertebral joints and nerve roots in your spinal cord and lead to neck pain. Whiplash during automobile accidents is a common injury that causes neck pain.
- Growths: Masses, including tumors, cysts and bone spurs, can put pressure on the nerves in your neck, causing pain.
- Other health conditions: Neck pain is a symptom of many health conditions, including meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
What can I do to relieve neck pain at home?
In addition to taking pain relief medications, you can take steps at home to relieve neck pain, including:
- Hot therapy: Take a hot shower or place a hot towel or heating pad (on the lowest setting) on the site of your pain for 15 minutes every few hours. The heat loosens your muscles and promotes blood flow.
- Cold therapy: Place a cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables (wrapped in a thin towel to protect your skin) for 15 minutes every few hours. The cold narrows your blood vessels, reducing inflammation and swelling. Use cold instead of heat immediately after an injury.
- Exercise: Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance on neck exercises you can try to relieve neck pain and improve your range of motion. Don’t attempt exercises if you have a serious neck injury or a pinched nerve.
- Stress reduction techniques: Mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can help relieve tension in your body that may contribute to neck pain.
- Quit smoking: Smoking damages bone structure, accelerates degenerative disk disease and slows healing.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain: How It Works
Acupuncture, a treatment method known for its effectiveness in alleviating neck pain, works by:
- Mechanically releasing muscle tightness that can lead to neck pain
- Restoring the body’s natural energy flow or ‘qi’
- Stimulating biochemical changes both locally and in the central nervous system
- Leading to pain relief and healing
Traditional Oriental Medicine Theory
Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) is a holistic method for maintaining health that has been in use for millennia. It posits that any disruption in the flow of vital fenergy, can result in disease and ill health. According to TOM theory, acupuncture is effective in managing pain, including neck pain, by restoring the balance of energy within the body.
In TOM, ailments like neck pain and headaches often signal a deeper imbalance or problem. This leads practitioners to assess the health of the spine and search for underlying sources of the problem such as bulging discs, injuries, or damaged joints.
Acupuncture Points for Neck Pain Relief
Acupuncturists conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify the root cause of neck pain. They may opt to insert needles in local areas and muscles in the neck, or distal areas such as the abdominal region or foot rather than the specific site of pain. This is done with the aim of relaxing the neck, diminishing inflammation and enhancing qi and restoring energy flow. The objective of stimulating acupuncture points is to facilitate improved circulation and to target the root causes of pain, leading to sustained relief.
- Gallbladder 20 (GB20) – Fengchi: Located at the base of the skull, in the depression between the two major neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid and trapezius). This point is often used for relieving headaches, neck stiffness, and tension.
- Bladder 10 (BL10) – Tianzhu: Situated one finger width below the base of the skull on either side of the spine. Effective for neck pain, especially when related to stress and tension.
- Governing Vessel 14 (GV14) – Dazhui: Found below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae. This point is used for treating neck pain, stiffness, and certain types of headaches.
- Small Intestine 3 (SI3) – Houxi: Located on the side of the hand, just below the pinky finger. While it might seem unrelated, this point is often used in acupuncture to address neck issues, especially those involving the cervical spine.
- Large Intestine 4 (LI4) – Hegu: This point is located on the back of the hand, between the thumb and the index finger. It’s a common point used for various types of pain, including neck pain and headaches.
Muscles Related to Neck Pain in Acupuncture:
- Trapezius Muscle: A large muscle extending from the back of the head and neck to the upper back. It’s often involved in neck stiffness and shoulder tension.
- Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) Muscle: Runs along the sides of the neck, from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid process behind the ear. Tension in this muscle can contribute to neck pain and limited range of motion.
- Levator Scapulae Muscle: Extends from the cervical spine to the scapula (shoulder blade). This muscle is often strained from poor posture, leading to neck pain and tightness.
- Suboccipital Muscles: A group of muscles located at the base of the skull. These muscles are often tight in individuals with tension headaches and chronic neck pain.
In acupuncture, treatment for neck pain often involves a combination of targeting specific points and addressing muscular imbalances or tension in these key areas.
The Acupuncture Treatment Session
An acupuncture session for neck pain commences with an initial evaluation of the patient’s condition, then proceeds with the placement of fine needles into targeted body points. This is done to restore energy flow and alleviate pain and tension. During the session, slender needles are carefully inserted into precise points on the body to modulate energy flow, enhance circulation, diminish inflammation, and facilitate pain alleviation. Additionally, these needles may undergo heating or electrical stimulation to augment their therapeutic impact.
The usual duration of a standard acupuncture treatment session for neck pain ranges from 30 to 60 minutes. However, the optimal duration and frequency of acupuncture sessions for neck pain are contingent upon the duration and severity of the pain and stiffness. The decision to persist with treatments rests with the patient, and depends on their perceived benefits.
Safety and Efficacy of Acupuncture for Neck Pain
While acupuncture can be an effective treatment for neck pain, it’s important to discuss its safety and efficacy. This is particularly crucial for those considering acupuncture as a treatment option for the first time.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Although generally deemed safe, acupuncture does come with potential risks and side effects. These can include:
- Bruising
- Pain during the session
- Tenderness at the site of insertion
- Bleeding
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Nausea
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Needling pain during treatment
That being said, serious complications, such as pneumothorax or infection, are infrequent. To reduce the likelihood of infection during acupuncture, the standard practice is to utilize single-use, disposable needles.
Research and Evidence
The research on acupuncture for neck pain has yielded varied results, with certain studies indicating potential for short-term relief and reduction in stress. Several meta-analyses have been conducted on the efficacy of acupuncture for neck pain, and they have generally concluded that acupuncture outperforms both sham and no acupuncture control for each pain condition.
While acupuncture has demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating short-term neck pain, its impact on long-term pain and disability remains unverified. However, moderate-quality evidence indicates that acupuncture may be beneficial in relieving persistent head and neck myofascial pain.
Tips for Preventing and Managing Neck Pain
While acupuncture and similar treatments can offer relief, preventive measures are always preferable. Maintaining proper posture can help prevent neck pain by ensuring that your spine and neck are in proper alignment, thus reducing strain on the muscles and ligaments in your neck.
Exercise is another crucial element in preventing and managing neck pain. Some effective exercises for preventing neck pain include:
- Strength training
- Stretching
- Walking
- Specific movements such as side-to-side bends, neck glide, and neck extension
Relaxation techniques that can alleviate neck pain include:
- Assisted neck pull
- Ear drop
- Forward fold with head nod
- The yes stretch
- Neck glide
- Neck extension
- Neck rotation
- Lateral extension
- Shoulder shrugs
- Tilted forward flexion
- Deep stretching
- Resistance presses
- Child’s pose (Balasana)
- Progressive muscle relaxation
In conclusion, acupuncture can be a highly effective method for managing neck pain. Through the stimulation of specific points on the body, it can alleviate pain, reduce tension, and restore the natural flow of energy. However, it’s important to remember that while acupuncture can provide relief, maintaining proper posture, staying active, and practicing relaxation techniques are also crucial in preventing and managing neck pain.
Selecting the right acupuncture practitioner is imperative. For an acupuncture practitioner to effectively treat neck pain, they must:
- Hold a master’s degree or higher in acupuncture
- Complete an accredited acupuncturist program
- Possess national board certification in acupuncture and oriental medicine (AOM) and is certified by the NCCAOM national board.
An acupuncture practitioner managing neck pain is responsible for carefully inserting fine needles into specific points to alleviate chronic pain and tension, thereby offering relief and aiding in neck pain management.
If you are suffering from neck pain and are in the Tokyo area, don’t hesitate to visit Fuji Wellness. Our licensed acupuncturist, Sunny Pham Sensei, will thoroughly understand your condition and help you treat the pain.
Fuji Wellness
- Address: 132-0031 Matsushima 1-chome, 21-14, Tokyo, Japan
- Contact: Click here
- Email: sunnyphamsensei@gmail.com
- Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/fujiwellnessjp
