Neck pain and Low back pain due to Bulging Disc!

Here is another interesting case that presented itself to my office about two weeks ago.

Several months ago, I would say last summer, I was coming out of the grocery store and the person parked next to me asked if I was Dr. Horvath. I said yes I was, and this person proceeded to tell me about their health problem. Having neck and low back pain, due to bulging discs, this person had several months of physical therapy and still had no real long term relief. I handed this person my card and told him to call and make an appointment to see what we could do for him.

I didn't hear from this person until two weeks ago, when he called asking about acupuncture for his condition. Finally, this person made an appointment to come in. After getting the patient information and doing a brief examination, I asked the patient to show me where the pain is located in his neck and low back. He began to run his hand along the side of his neck and upper trapezius muscle stating that the neck pain was much greater than the low back pain. Also from the examination, this patient stated that their were issues of anxiety and compulsive disorders. With that information I began to treat the patient. I used a pattern of Shao Yang and Shao Yin. This would be the GallBladder/San Jiao with Kidney/Heart. Why these two channels?

First of all..the location of this person's neck pain followed the GB and SJ channel along the neck and upper part of the arm. Second, I wanted to use Kidney channel because of the history of disc involvement. Since Kidney governs the bones, CNS, discs and supports the low back. Third and most important was Heart. Since heart governs the mind or the Shen. This would be related to his anxiety and OCD. Also the Heart and GB channels will balance nicely just like the Kidney and SJ.

Again after the initial visit the patient reported how the muscle spasms in his neck have greatly reduced. The patient stated that "his shoulders were not up in his ears". He couldn't believe the relief he had recieved after one visit. It never ceases to amaze me the results one can get with acupuncture!