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Read MoreOctober 3, 2024
Sonia, a 45-year-old woman, came to my acupuncture clinic seeking relief from chronic neck and shoulder pain and tightness that had persisted for the past 8 years.
She was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis due to pain in her left neck. Her doctor recommended physical therapy and chiropractic treatment to relieve the tension in her left neck. She also experienced numbness and tingling in her hand and fingers, as well as headaches and migraines every day. On a bad day, she was not even functioning to work and passed out due to pain. She received corticosteroid injections in her neck to alleviate the pain, but the pain returned as soon as the medication wore off. Her symptoms made it difficult for her to sleep at night, which was extremely exhausting and frustrating for her.
We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our Pain Specialist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.
Cervical spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal in the neck narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can lead to symptoms such as neck pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the arms and legs, and in severe cases, it can cause problems with coordination and bowel or bladder function.
The recovery time for cervical spinal stenosis can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the type of treatment received. For some individuals, conservative treatments such as medication and physical therapy may lead to gradual improvement over several weeks to months. In cases where surgery is necessary, the recovery period may be longer, typically ranging from several weeks to several months.
There are various therapies available for treating cervical spinal stenosis and reducing pain and muscle tightness. These include medications, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and surgery. Acupuncture is also an option for treating cervical spinal stenosis. Sonia chose acupuncture after trying steroid injections and physical therapy but not seeing significant improvement from these treatments.
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During Sonia’s initial acupuncture session, we examined her neck mobility and muscle tightness. She had pain when touching her neck and it is tender to touch. We agreed on a treatment course of Acupuncture once a week for a month.
The treatments focused on reducing the inflammation, loosening the neck and shoulder muscle tightness, and opening up the space for the nerves to go through her neck to her arms. Many studies have shown that acupuncture is incredibly practical in reducing pain and inflammation due to its ability to stimulate the body to release its natural painkillers.
A week after her first acupuncture treatment, Sonia was showing some progress. She didn’t feel tightness or pain in her neck as much as before, and it doesn’t cause headaches or migraines every day. Also, she was able to go to the bathroom every day. By the end of the third week, her neck pain was almost gone, headaches were not happening, and she could sleep at night without waking up.
Within two months, Sonia had fully recovered. She was almost 90% free from neck and shoulder pain, headaches, and migraines, and no longer required any treatment.
As a general rule of thumb, the sooner one receives treatment, the better the prognosis. Some patients come for neck & shoulder treatment months or even years after the initial onset, and these chronic cases are often more complex and take a much longer time to achieve results. Even then, recovery is not guaranteed.
Regarding the frequency of treatments, Acupuncture follows a simple rule. Acute and relatively new conditions are most effectively treated with more frequent visits, whereas chronic and old conditions can benefit from more widespread treatments. In other words, if you just had an onset of neck pain, you will probably be prescribed 2-3 treatments per week in order to get the most effective results, and chronic cases will generally come in only once a week.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a cervical spine stenosis and want to learn more about acupuncture and whether it’s appropriate for your case, send us a message through our contact page. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post! I appreciate your interest and hope to see you again for future posts.
We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our Pain Specialist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.
These blogs are about natural remedies, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs, and health tips.
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Read MoreSatoru Ozawa, L.Ac, ATC
hariQ acupuncture & herbs
Licensed acupuncturist, Certified Athletic Trainer and Chinese herbal specialist. With his 10 years of experience in Oriental Medicine, he will recommend the best natural Remedies, including Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and health tips to relieve your suffering.