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Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffTalk to your doctor if you're interested in trying alternative treatments for your neck pain. Your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks. Alternative treatments include:
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into various points on your body. Studies have found that acupuncture may be helpful for many types of pain. But studies in neck pain have been mixed. For best results, you may need to undergo several acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a certified practitioner using sterile needles. But don't undergo acupuncture treatment if you're taking blood thinners.
- Chiropractic. Given mainly to the spine, a chiropractic adjustment applies a controlled, sudden force to a joint — moving it beyond its normal range of motion. Chiropractic treatments to the neck may slightly increase your risk of stroke.
- Massage. During a massage, a trained practitioner manipulates the muscles in your neck with his or her hands. Little scientific evidence exists to support massage in people with neck pain, though it may provide relief when combined with your doctor's recommended treatments.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Electrodes placed on your skin near the painful areas deliver tiny electrical impulses that may relieve pain.
References
- Devin C, et al. Neck pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/170975296-3/0/1807/271.html?tocnode=55731659&fromURL=271.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10039-7_1122. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Isaac Z, et al. Evaluation of the patient with neck pain and cervical spine disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Anderson BC, et al. Treatment of neck pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Chiropractic: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- Acupuncture for pain. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/acupuncture-for-pain.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
- The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Executive summary. Spine. 2008;33:55.
- Bauer BA. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2007:117.
- What a pain in the neck! American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/pain/necktips.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
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