As a teenager, Widi, an acupuncturist at Acupuncture Practice, suffered from chronic neck and shoulder pain. A pain that ruled her life. Years later, during her training as an acupuncturist, she found that acupuncture was extremely effective in alleviating this chronic pain. A discovery that changed her life. She tells her story and shares her tips in this blog.
How my chronic neck and shoulder pain disappeared through acupuncture
At the age of 15, I suffered from weekly neck and shoulder pain and was dealing with headaches. The pain affected my sleep, which made me very tired during the day. I woke up tired, was grumpy, and didn't want to do fun things. At school, my concentration was poor, and I quickly became angry and frustrated because the learning process was hindered by the pain. My poor performance led to even more disappointment. This put me in a vicious circle.
I had chronic pain, and I had to learn to live with it. My neck and shoulder pain had affected my daily life. I lived with many limitations.
I tried everything to get rid of the pain, but nothing helped. Taking painkillers every day had become my new habit, allowing me to perform my activities without pain.
While I was still working in the hospital as a nurse, I often heard clients talking about pain. And I always thought, "If only I could do more for them besides providing exercises, referring to physiotherapy or pain clinics, administering painkillers, and listening."
During my training as an acupuncturist, I discovered that acupuncture works wonderfully for neck and shoulder pain. Now I am happy and without pain, absolutely thanks to acupuncture.
How I work with the Balance Method Acupuncture
I've been working with the Balance Method Acupuncture for six years now. With this method, I have a very effective solution that really helps the clients who come to the practice every day with neck and shoulder pain.
My specialization includes Dr. Tan's Balance Method Acupuncture. This acupuncture method provides immediate pain relief after placing the correct acupuncture needles not in the pain area itself, but in a balancing area.
Causes and characteristics of neck and shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain often results from tensions and stress. It can also arise from poor posture or movement, overuse due to heavy lifting, or performing the same movements repeatedly. It can also be the case that part of the shoulder is inflamed, for example, a tendon or the bursa.
- Sometimes the pain radiates to the shoulder blades, neck, arm, elbow, or fingers.
- It often causes extra pain when your arm moves upward.
- You usually can't sleep well due to painful neck and shoulder.
- Pain can make some activities more difficult: working, sports, lifting a child, hobbies, grocery shopping, or household chores.
- Pain can lead to decreased use of your arm, which can result in a stiff shoulder. We call this a frozen shoulder.
Want to know more about this topic? Read our blog on acupuncture as a natural pain reliever.
What can you do against this neck and shoulder pain?
Neck and shoulder pain usually go away on their own. Adequate rest and movement will usually help. However, if the symptoms worsen or do not subside after a week, it is wise to seek help.
Tips to prevent or improve neck and shoulder pain:
- Keep moving. Try to continue your daily activities if possible. This prevents the neck and shoulder from becoming stiff. Movement is good, but don't force it. So don't lift too heavy and don't push or pull hard.
- Sit upright and relaxed. The right (sitting) posture ensures relaxed muscles, which are less likely to tighten.
- Ensure that you are well-rested. If you're tired, the muscles are less relaxed, which can create unhealthy tension on the neck and shoulders.
- Take a warm shower. Warmth helps to relax the muscles, improves blood flow to the muscles, and can relieve pain.
- Take sufficient breaks. Do not sit in the same position for more than an hour, alternate sitting with walking or doing some exercises. This can help against overuse of the neck and shoulder muscles.
- Do stretching exercises. This helps to loosen the neck and shoulder muscles. Stretching exercises focus on extending and moving the neck, shoulders, and head. Look this up on the internet. The exercises are designed to relax, stretch muscles, and keep joints supple.
Tip: Read more here on how acupuncture helps with pain relief
How does acupuncture help with neck and shoulder pain?
When the symptoms do not subside, acupuncture can provide a solution. The benefits of acupuncture include:
- Acupuncture proves to be very effective in pain management. People with neck and shoulder pain come to the practice daily with good results.
- Through acupuncture treatment, you suffer less from muscle tension in the neck and shoulders.
- The pinching or irritation of nerves disappears, reducing or eliminating the complaint.
- The treatment aims to lift energy blockages, causing the blockages to disappear, thus you have less pain, and recovery will also be faster.
- Usually, after 5-8 treatments, you will notice a significant improvement. This depends on the stubbornness and how long you have been dealing with it.
We do pain management with acupuncture for back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, migraine, and more pain complaints in all our branches. Make an appointment online at one of our locations in Breukelen, Hoofddorp, Nieuw-Vennep, Rijswijk / Delft, Voorburg or Wassenaar.
