Acupuncture for neck and shoulder pain in Gothenburg
Acupuncture is often used for a stiff neck, aching between the shoulder blades and shoulders that no longer move freely, and research suggests it can ease long-term neck pain. At Dr. Tian Akupunktur in Eriksberg, Gothenburg, the neck, shoulders and upper back are treated together, often with cupping or gua sha. Treatment can be combined with physiotherapy and exercise.
The TCM view
How TCM understands neck and shoulder pain
In traditional Chinese medicine, several important channels pass through the neck and shoulders, and the area is often described as a bottleneck. When Qi and blood stagnate there, the result is stiffness, aching and sometimes a headache that spreads up from the back of the head.
Common causes include cold and draughts, a forward-leaning posture at work, and stress. Frozen shoulder and lingering whiplash symptoms are seen as deeper stagnation that has built up over time.
The treatment
How treatment works
During the health consultation, Dr. Tian checks how freely your neck and shoulders move. You talk through your working day, past injuries and how you sleep, and your pulse and tongue add further information.
Neck and shoulder problems are often treated with acupuncture combined with cupping and gua sha, which increase circulation and soften tight tissue. You also get advice on screen height, heat and simple exercises.
Experience and research
Dr. Tian’s experience and what the research says
Neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons patients come to the clinic in Eriksberg. Dr. Tian has treated it for more than 40 years, first in China and then in Gothenburg. She holds a PhD from the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Research suggests acupuncture can reduce pain and improve mobility in cases of long-term neck pain. Many patients find the benefits last longer when treatment goes hand in hand with movement and changes to their daily routine.
Expectations
What to expect
In Dr. Tian’s experience, muscular neck pain often responds fairly quickly, while frozen shoulder and whiplash take longer. A typical course is six to ten sessions.
It is common to feel a little tired or sore the evening after treatment and looser the next day. How much it helps depends on how long you have had the problem and what you can change day to day.
Treatments often used
Every new patient starts with a health consultation or a first visit that includes acupuncture. Dr. Tian then suggests the treatments that suit you.
Health consultation
30 minPulse and tongue diagnosis, and a treatment plan made for you.
SEK 550
BookHealth consultationAcupuncture, first visit
60 minA 30-minute health consultation followed by 30 minutes of acupuncture.
SEK 1,400
BookAcupuncture, first visitAcupuncture, follow-up
50 minSterile single-use needles placed at points chosen for your TCM diagnosis.
SEK 1,050
BookAcupuncture, follow-upCupping
45 minGentle suction that lifts the tissue and increases blood flow in tense muscles.
SEK 800
BookCupping
On Saturdays a supplement of SEK 180 applies to all treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture help with frozen shoulder?
Acupuncture is often used for frozen shoulder, both for the pain and to make rehabilitation exercises easier. The condition improves slowly, so treatment often continues for several months alongside physiotherapy.
Can neck pain cause headaches?
Yes, it is common. Tension headaches often start where the neck muscles attach to the skull and spread towards the top of the head or the forehead. Dr. Tian then treats the neck, shoulders and head together.
Will cupping leave marks?
Cupping can leave round, reddish-purple marks that last from a few days to a week. They are not usually painful. If you have an occasion coming up where you would rather not have marks, mention it and Dr. Tian will adapt the treatment.
Conditions that often go together
- Back pain and sciaticaLower back pain and sciatica that radiates down the leg, treated locally and along the whole meridian.
- Migraine and headacheMigraine, tension headache and pressure behind the eyes, treated according to where the pain sits and what sets it off.
- Stress and exhaustionFor long periods of stress, shallow sleep, an unsettled stomach or exhaustion.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.