The Pain In Your Neck

Do you suffer from neck pain? You’re not alone. Approximately 60% of the patients I see suffer from neck discomfort, stiffness or pain, though not necessarily as their primary complaint. It can be triggered by poor posture – often from sitting at a desk all day or sleeping in an awkward position – is sometimes related to stress and tension, and can result from trauma such as falls and whiplash.

While neck pain can be so mild that it presents as nothing more than an annoyance, it can also be so severe that it affects your quality of life. It can present as acute stiff neck or chronic neck and shoulder pain, usually associated with stiffness, and can at times be one-sided, where the neck may feel like it is misaligned.

So, what are your treatment options?

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is based on a system of meridians – a network of channels running through the body that integrates all of its functions. This approach promotes the healing of damaged tissue, releases adhesions formed from prolonged inflammation, releases muscles and fascia, and treats the underlying sources of tension. Acupuncture typically involves treatment of local points at the injury site and related structures, as well as acupuncture points along the meridian. It brings rapid relief from symptoms, with most people experiencing a reduction in pain and tightness after the first treatment.

Exercise

Gentle neck and shoulder rolls help loosen the surrounding muscles and where possible, 10 repetitions of each exercise should be performed every hour throughout the day.

Heat

Application of heat can often relieve tension and neck muscle spasm (with the exception of acute neck injury).

Jinny Koh is an experienced acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist and holds a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She specialises in women’s health, fertility and pregnancy and treats a broad range of conditions from stress, digestive problems, and chronic pain to sports injuries and musculoskeletal issues. If you’d like to book a session with Jinny, please contact her on 0405 699 382 or therapist.jinny@elixr.com.au