Natural Relief with Acupuncture and Microcurrent Therapy
North Tucson Acupuncture – Serving Oro Valley, Marana & the Greater Tucson Area
What You’ll Learn in This Blog:
- What a pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) feels like
- Common signs and symptoms to watch for
- How acupuncture and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) work together
- Real patient success and how treatment may help you
Understanding Cervical Radiculopathy
A pinched nerve in the neck—also called cervical radiculopathy—is something we see often at our clinic. It can show up as pain in the upper back, shoulder, or arm, even without any neck pain. This often leads people to think the problem is in their shoulder or upper back, when the true source is actually the neck.
When a new patient comes in, we start with questions and simple orthopedic tests to find out if a pinched nerve is the cause. If it is, we begin treatment using a powerful combination of acupuncture and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM).
Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system and ease pain, while FSM targets the affected nerve and surrounding tissues to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This integrative approach often brings faster relief and can shorten the overall number of visits needed.
What Cervical Radiculopathy Can Feel Like
Patients describe it in many ways, including:
- “It feels like lightning shooting down my arm.”
- “My neck feels stiff and sore, and the pain travels into my shoulder blade.”
- “I get this burning sensation that goes from my neck to my fingertips.”
- “My hand feels numb, like it’s asleep all the time.”
- “I’ve lost strength—I can’t even open a jar anymore.”
Signs That a Pinched Nerve May Be the Cause
These clinical signs help confirm that a cervical nerve is involved:
- Pain worsens with neck movement—especially looking up or turning
- Spurling’s test reproduces symptoms when the neck is tilted and compressed
- Shoulder abduction relief sign: resting the hand on top of the head eases symptoms
There Is Hope for Relief
If any of this sounds familiar, don’t wait to get help. Cervical radiculopathy can be excruciating, but it is also very treatable. At North Tucson Acupuncture, we’ve helped people who were misdiagnosed, recently injured, or dealing with long-term nerve pain.
One of our patients came in unable to do basic activities like cleaning the house or playing with her kids. After just a few sessions, not only was the pain gone, but her strength and mobility returned. Stories like this are why we do what we do.
Our goal is simple: to deliver care that works. If you’re suffering from a pinched nerve, schedule a consultation to see how acupuncture and FSM can help you get your life back.
About This Blog Series
This blog series explores some of the more common—but often complex and challenging—conditions I treat in my clinic. Each post is personally written by me, Alastair Macleod, MAc.OM, drawing from real-world experience and the clinical outcomes I’ve seen firsthand.
Though these conditions can be difficult to manage with conventional approaches, my goal is to share insights and treatments that have consistently delivered good results for my patients. If you’re facing something similar, I hope this information helps you feel more informed, empowered, and hopeful on your healing journey.
