Acupuncture Treatment for Severe Neck and Shoulder Pain in a Weak Female Patient

A 33-year-old Chinese woman came to the clinic with a distressed expression, complaining of severe neck and shoulder pain that started after waking up with a stiff neck two days ago. That evening, she received a massage in an attempt to relieve the discomfort, but instead, the pain intensified, making it impossible for her to sleep through the night. At the time of consultation, any slight movement of her neck caused unbearable pain.

Observing her thin and weak physique, along with her feeble speech and a soft, thin pulse, the diagnosis pointed to a Jueyin Syndrome.

Treatment Process

A single acupuncture point was initially selected for treatment, which significantly improved her neck mobility. However, she reported that the pain had not noticeably subsided. In reality, the pain had improved in one meridian but persisted in another, which remained obstructed. Therefore, a second point was chosen to address the remaining pain.

Considering her weak constitution and insufficient qi regulation, she was also given 5 grams of concentrated Danggui-Gegen granules to dissolve under her tongue, promoting qi and blood circulation.

After the second needle insertion, the pain disappeared completely, leaving the patient astonished.

Clinical Insights

For patients with a weak constitution, improper local massage or acupuncture may lead to two potential outcomes:

1.Exacerbation of pain – Disturbing the local qi flow may further aggravate stagnation.

2.Minimal pain relief but extreme fatigue – If the treatment fails to address the root cause, the patient may experience further exhaustion due to the additional consumption of qi and blood.

However, when accurately diagnosing and treating the condition, even a weak patient can experience immediate and significant relief.

Case NO.110 @ iCare Clinic, Melbourne

Note: TCM doesn’t ‘treat’ any certain WM disease name. TCM has its own system and method to rebalance the human body, release the symptoms and help the body truly recover on its own. TCM treatment methods and effects are different according to individual differences, and the sharing of the case study does NOT constitute treatment recommendations.