Acupuncture for Neck Pain: What to Expect

If your neck feels tight by mid-afternoon, you are not alone: Mayo Clinic says neck pain is a common problem, affecting many adults at some time in their lives. Acupuncture is one option people try for neck pain, and Mayo Clinic lists neck pain among the conditions it is used for.

This article is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Your practitioner or doctor can talk through whether acupuncture suits your situation.

In this article

• What is acupuncture and how does it work?
• Does acupuncture help neck pain?
• What to expect from acupuncture
• What happens in a session for neck pain
• How many sessions do you need?
• Is acupuncture safe? Side effects
• Simple things to try between visits
• What to keep in mind
• When to see a doctor first
• Acupuncture at BLVD
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

Key takeaways

• NCCIH reports acupuncture ahead of sham and no treatment for back or neck pain. A 2018 review it describes found acupuncture more effective than no treatment and than sham acupuncture. A Cochrane review found that acupuncture eased neck pain better than sham acupuncture right after treatment and in the short term.
• Plan for a series of visits. At BLVD, your first treatment includes an assessment and a plan for how many visits you are likely to need.
• Side effects are usually minor. Soreness, bruising and minor bleeding at the needle sites are the most common.
• Some neck pain needs a doctor first. Numbness, weakness, pain after an injury, or pain that keeps getting worse should be checked before you try any new treatment.

What is acupuncture and how does it work?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at strategic points on the body. It is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, which explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force. In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue.

NCCIH says there is evidence that acupuncture may have effects on the nervous system and on other body tissues.

Does acupuncture help neck pain?

NCCIH and a Cochrane review each found acupuncture ahead of sham acupuncture. Here is what each found.

What NCCIH says

NCCIH reports that research has shown acupuncture may be helpful for several pain conditions, including back or neck pain. A 2018 review it describes found acupuncture more effective than no treatment for back or neck pain, and more effective than sham acupuncture. The gap between acupuncture and no treatment was larger than the gap between acupuncture and sham.

What the Cochrane review found

A Cochrane review of 27 trials (5,462 people) looked at acupuncture for neck pain. It found that acupuncture eased pain better than sham acupuncture, a simulated treatment, right after treatment and at short-term follow-up. People who had acupuncture also reported less pain and disability in the short term than people on a wait list.

What to expect from acupuncture

A Cochrane review found that acupuncture eased neck pain in the short term, and Mayo Clinic notes that some people feel relaxed and others feel energized after an acupuncture treatment. At BLVD, your registered acupuncturist chooses where to needle based on your health history and the pattern of your pain.

What happens in a session for neck pain

A visit starts with a conversation and an assessment, followed by needling and a rest period. Plan for about an hour for your first visit, which is longer than the ones that follow because of the assessment. Your registered acupuncturist takes a full health history, asks about the pattern of your pain, and examines you before deciding where to needle. If you want a full walkthrough of a first visit, see our guide to your first acupuncture appointment.

A typical treatment uses 5 to 20 needles, according to Mayo Clinic, which adds that sometimes the appropriate points are far removed from the area of your pain. At BLVD, needles are left in for twenty to thirty minutes while you rest.

Your acupuncturist may also use related techniques such as cupping, gua sha, moxibustion or manual therapy (tui na), depending on your needs.

How many sessions do you need?

At BLVD, your first treatment includes an assessment and a plan for how many visits you are likely to need. A typical acupuncture course at BLVD runs six to twelve sessions over about three months, usually starting weekly and spacing out as things improve. Follow-up treatments are adjusted each visit based on how you responded to the last one.

Mayo Clinic says a common treatment plan for a single complaint is one or two treatments a week, and that it is common to receive 6 to 8 treatments. The number of treatments depends on the condition being treated and its severity.

Is acupuncture safe? Side effects

Mayo Clinic says the risks of acupuncture are low with a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. It lists soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted as the common side effects. The Cochrane review concluded that acupuncture appears to be a safe treatment, with minor, short-lasting adverse effects including increased pain, bruising, fainting, worsening of symptoms, local swelling and dizziness. The studies reported no life-threatening adverse effects.

NCCIH notes that relatively few complications have been reported, and that complications have resulted from nonsterile needles and improper delivery of treatments. At BLVD, needles are single use and sterile. In British Columbia, acupuncture is a regulated profession, and BLVD acupuncturists are registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), which gives the public access to search its registered professional database to check credentials and qualifications.

Tell your acupuncturist before treatment if you are pregnant, taking blood thinners, or have a pacemaker, because each of those changes which points and techniques are appropriate. Mayo Clinic notes that acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to the needles may potentially interfere with a pacemaker's operation, and that some acupuncture points are thought to stimulate labor, which could result in a premature delivery.

Simple things to try between visits

Gentle self-care can sit alongside any treatment you choose. Mayo Clinic suggests these for neck pain:

• Ice, then heat. Use an ice pack for up to 15 minutes several times a day for the first 48 hours, then switch to a warm shower or a heating pad on low.
• Gentle stretching. Turn your neck gently from side to side and up and down.
• Better posture. Keep your back supported and your computer screen at eye level.
• Lift your phone. Keep your head up. Hold your phone or tablet straight out rather than bending your neck to look down.

What to keep in mind

Research points to short-term results for neck pain. The Cochrane reviewers found the effect does not seem sustainable over the long term, noted that few large trials gave high-quality evidence, and did not examine whether repeated sessions work. The review's search ran to August 2015, so newer studies are not included. NCCIH describes nonspecific (placebo) effects, and an analysis in which the benefits lasted a year after treatment for the painful conditions studied except neck pain. Mayo Clinic notes that not everyone responds to acupuncture. At BLVD, we review how you are responding as you go.

When to see a doctor first

See a doctor before booking if your neck pain comes with warning signs, or if your symptoms are new, severe or unexplained. Call 911 or have someone drive you to the emergency room if you have severe neck pain after an injury such as a car collision, a diving accident or a fall, with weakness in an arm or leg or trouble walking, or with a high fever. HealthLink BC also lists neck pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or nausea as a reason to call 911.

Contact your doctor promptly if you have:

• New or worse numbness or weakness in your arms or legs.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control.
• Long-term neck pain that suddenly gets much worse, when you did not cause it by being more active.
• A history of cancer or HIV infection, and new or increased neck pain.
• Pain that wakes you from sleep.
• Pain that radiates down an arm or leg, or comes with headache, tingling or weakness.
• Pain that worsens in spite of self-care.
• Pain that persists after several weeks of self-care.

You can also call 811 (HealthLink BC) if you are unsure what to do.

Acupuncture at BLVD

Our registered acupuncturists see people with neck, back, shoulder and joint pain. Acupuncture here is used alongside physiotherapy and massage rather than as an alternative to them, so it fits into the plan you are already on. You can book directly without a doctor's referral, although some extended health plans ask for one before they reimburse you, so it is worth checking your plan wording first.

To learn more about the service, visit our acupuncture service page.

Book online or call (604) 364-1626 to start with an assessment and a plan for your neck pain.

Frequently asked questions

Does acupuncture work for neck pain?

NCCIH reports that a 2018 review found acupuncture more effective than no treatment and than sham acupuncture for back or neck pain. A Cochrane review of 27 trials found that acupuncture eased neck pain better than sham acupuncture, right after treatment and at short-term follow-up. The limits of that research are covered in What to keep in mind.

Does acupuncture for neck pain hurt?

Usually only a little. Mayo Clinic says the needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort, and you may feel a mild aching sensation when a needle reaches the correct depth. At BLVD, tell your acupuncturist if anything feels sharp, because a needle can be adjusted straight away.

How soon should I notice a difference?

At BLVD, a typical course starts weekly, and follow-up treatments are adjusted each visit based on how you responded to the last one. Mayo Clinic says that if your symptoms don't begin to improve within a few weeks, acupuncture may not be right for you.

Can acupuncture replace physiotherapy or massage for neck pain?

At BLVD, acupuncture is used alongside physiotherapy and massage rather than instead of them, so it fits into the plan you are already on.

Do I need a doctor's referral?

No, you can book acupuncture directly at BLVD. Some extended health plans ask for a physician referral before they reimburse you, so check your plan.

When should I see a doctor instead?

See a doctor first for neck pain after an injury, or with numbness, weakness, fever, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain that keeps getting worse. Call 911 in an emergency.

Sources

• Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Acupuncture for neck disorders (Trinh K, et al., 2016), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, via PubMed Central
• Acupuncture, Mayo Clinic
• Neck pain: Symptom, Mayo Clinic
• Neck Pain, HealthLink BC
• College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), CCHPBC