Expert: Dr. Man Tran, Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac. - 5/9/2007

Question
Hello!  

For the last couple of years, I have been experiencing chronic tension/pressure/pain in the back of my neck, especially where it seems that my head meets my neck. Often, the pressure will seem to transfer between my neck and the front of my face, I can often feel pressure in my nose/sinus area.  Some days are better than others, but I've been unable to determine a consistent trigger.  Bad posture and/or strenuous exercise do tend to exacerbate the condition.

I saw an orthopedic doctor, who took x-rays and advised that the x-rays looked normal.  He suggested physical therapy, which offered very little help.  The only thing they did that seemed to help was ultrasound around the base of my head where it meets the neck, as I described above.  THis seemed to offer good relief, although only temporary.

Another doctor friend of mine suggested I see a neurologist due to the fact that the pressure I feel in my nose was rather strange.  But this seems a little extreme to me.

I would like to know if seeing a chiropractor might help with this.

Thanks!

Answer
Dear Vik,

From what you described, it may be due to tension at the base of the skull producing the pressure and pain.  Consulting with a chiropractic can help.  Other aspect you may want to consider also is acupuncture.  As pressure is build at the base of the skull, there is a term in acupuncture called "blood stagnation" in the channel that create the pain.  Acupuncture can open up the channel and resolve the pain as well.  You can have both treatment at the same time which would accelerated the healing.