Due to the nature of our jobs in offices and being in front of computers for an extended period, or diseases such as Cervical spondylosis (degenerative disease affecting the spinal discs) neck pain is a very common complaint from my patients. Acupuncture treatment for neck pain is very well recognized and nowadays often recommended by many physicians and specialists as the initial therapeutic method to alleviate the stiffness and discomfort.

Inserting an acupuncture needle causes a reduction of inflammation, an increase in blood circulation, and release of neurochemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin. Acupuncture is believed to stimulate biochemical changes both locally (where the needles are placed) and in the central nervous system. This can relieve pain in the neck and promote relaxation.

During an acupuncture treatment for neck pain at Bern Akupunktur, determination of which points needing stimulation is based on your symptoms and health history. Even when symptoms of pain and stiffness are only in the neck area, I may place needles in other areas of the body in addition to the neck. Depending on treatment method, you might be asked to lie on the stomach, back, or sit in a comfortable position.

Depending on your specific case, acupuncture treatments for neck pain may be scheduled a couple of times per week for the first 2 or 3 weeks, and then once a week as the pain diminishes and your condition stabilizes.

The positive effects of the treatment accumulate in the first couple of days and the expected therapeutic benefits of acupuncture usually last about a week. My general expectation for acupuncture for neck pain is that you will feel relief after the first session, and the pain and discomfort may completely disappear after several treatments, depending on its severity and chronicity.