We recently spoke to Angela from Manchester to learn more about her experience using acupuncture to help with her neck pain.

Treatwiser: Thanks Angela for joining us today. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about your experience with acupuncture. To get started, please can you share a little bit about yourself?

Angela: Of course and nice to be here with you. I’m Angela, a 42 year old design freelancer who is based in Manchester.

Treatwiser: Can you tell us about how you started your acupuncture journey?

Angela: My journey started about 2 years ago. I was in a bad place as I had been suffering with persistent neck pain for 2 to 3 years. It had been affecting my ability to work and had progressively got worse. It was pretty much at the point where it hurt to do simple daily tasks. I’d tried many solutions  – over the counter pain tablets and massage therapy – with little success as they only provided temporary relief. This pushed me into making a decision to give acupuncture a go.

Treatwiser: Can you tell us about how you first came across acupuncture?

Angela: I decided to give acupuncture a try based on some positive feedback I received from friends and family.

Various people I know have used acupuncture in the past to help improve their overall health. Many of these were very complimentary and recommended acupuncture to me as several of them had suffered a similar fate to me.

I started seeing an acupuncturist about 2 years ago for my neck pain that I had been experiencing for a few years by then. I had tried other treatments before, like massage therapy and pain relief tablets, but nothing seemed to give me longer term relief.

Treatwiser: Can you walk us through how you found your acupuncturist?

Angela: The friends who told me about acupuncture were also able to recommend acupuncturists. I reached out to one of them and had a very comfortable chat with her on the phone. During the call she asked me quite a few questions and gave me a good idea of what to expect. I liked the way in which she was very thorough and transparent, and it made me very comfortable to go ahead.

Treatwiser: How did your acupuncturist approach your neck pain?

Angela: My acupuncturist took a very thorough and holistic approach to my treatment. She started by asking me about my lifestyle, daily routine, stress levels, and other health concerns I was experiencing. She also carried out a thorough examination of my neck. This allowed her to devise a thorough acupuncture therapy plan that was tailored to me.

Treatwiser: What was the actual acupuncture experience like for you?

Angela: At first, I was a little nervous about the needles. But honestly, I barely noticed them. The needles were very thin and I hardly noticed them entering my skin. Once they were in, I didn’t realise they were still there.

Treatwiser: Did you notice any immediate relief after your first session?

Angela: I did feel a little bit of relief right away and after my first session, but it wasn’t until after a few sessions that I really noticed a significant difference. My neck pain started to feel less strained and I was able to move my head around more freely without any discomfort. Work became a lot more pleasant after that.

Treatwiser: How often did you have acupuncture therapy?

Angela: Initially, I went once a week for about 6 weeks. After that, I started to space out my appointments a little bit more as my pain continued to improve.

Treatwiser: Did you recall any side effects from the acupuncture?

Angela: Nothing negative. It was rather calming and I sometimes found myself starting to fall asleep.

Treatwiser: What would you say to someone who is considering acupuncture for their own neck pain?

Angela: I would definitely encourage people in that position to consider giving acupuncture a try. At the very least pick up the phone and speak to an acupuncturist about a potential first session. It’s important to accept that it may not work for everyone, but it’s honestly been a revelation for me. I think a reason for this was finding a great acupuncturist who made me feel at ease so quickly.

Treatwiser: Is there anything else you want to share with readers? Anything that may help them with their acupuncture journeys?

Angela: I think it’s important to mention that I benefited from taking an holistic approach and acupuncture was just one part of this. My acupuncturist also recommended that I made changes to my lifestyle including improving my diet, exercising more regularly and taking regular breaks at work to manage stress levels.