Conditions Treated: Back and Neck Pain
Sore necks, tight shoulders and aching backs are common. Life in New York means a lot of sitting, typing and reading, and for many people that settles into the muscles of the neck and back. We treat back and neck pain at our East Village clinic with acupuncture, trigger point work and cupping.
Signs your pain may be muscular
A sore neck at the end of a long workday. Tight, knotted muscles across your shoulders and upper back. A back muscle that tightens up again after a workout. Headaches that seem to start with tension in your neck or trapezius muscles. Neck pain from spending hours looking down at your phone.
Muscle-related pain can show up in different ways. Repetitive movements, prolonged sitting, poor posture, exercise, and everyday stress can all contribute to muscle tension and discomfort. Sometimes, a tight or irritated muscle can also cause referred pain, meaning you feel pain in an area away from its source.
We also see patients with sciatica, repetitive strain injuries, and pain that radiates into the arms or legs. While some of these symptoms may involve muscles, they can also have other causes, such as nerve irritation or spinal conditions. An assessment can help determine whether acupuncture may be appropriate for your symptoms.
Why it happens
When we spend long periods in the same position or repeat the same movements, some muscles can become overworked and tight, while others become less active and lose strength or endurance. These muscle imbalances can affect how the body moves and distributes physical stress, contributing to stiffness, fatigue, and recurring neck, shoulder, and back pain. Treatment may help relieve muscle tension and discomfort, while appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises can help restore balance and improve movement.
How we treat it
We look at each patient as an individual to determine their TCM pattern and come up with the most effective treatment. For back and neck pain we often use trigger point acupuncture, electro-acupuncture (often called e-stim) and cupping. Trigger point acupuncture targets the specific muscles holding tension
and releases them. Because pain can be referred from one muscle to another, your practitioner looks at how your muscles connect, and aims to find the root cause of the pain and treat that. Traditional Chinese medicine looks at the whole body, so needles are not always placed where it hurts. Your practitioner may also use points elsewhere on the body.
Cupping, which uses suction cups on the skin, may help relieve back, shoulder and neck tightness by improving blood flow to the area. Between visits, a few small habits help. Set a timer every hour, and when it goes off get up and move around for at least two minutes. Keep your shoulders back and your hips back in the chair. Mix in time standing while you work if you can. Traditional Chinese medicine also teaches that too much sitting and thinking is hard on digestion, so work warm, cooked foods into your day.
What your first visit will be like
Your acupuncturist begins with an intake, so we understand where it hurts, when it started and what your day looks like. Needles are placed in the appropriate acu points, then you rest for roughly thirty minutes. Book a 45-minute session but allow an hour at the clinic. You will leave with a treatment plan and a recommendation for how often to come in, based on your symptoms rather than a fixed schedule. Acupuncture can be very relaxing. Some patients fall into a deep sleep during their session and have a lot of energy afterward, while others realize how much they have been holding onto and feel tired. We recommend listening to your body. If your practitioner has used trigger points to release tight muscles in your neck or upper back, you might feel some soreness that can last a day or two. We recommend heat and gentle stretching along with drinking lots of room temperature water after treatment.
What it Costs
Acupuncture is $85, or $75 for students and seniors. Acupuncture Plus, which includes trigger point work, is $105, or $95 for students and seniors. A private treatment room is $115. A cupping session is $65, and cupping with acupuncture is $105.
Students and seniors with valid ID can book Tuesday to Friday before 2pm.
We offer discounts of 10, 15 or 20% when sessions are purchased in packages of 3, 5 or 10 sessions.
Common Questions
Which acupuncturists have experience treating neck and back pain?
All of our acupuncturists are experts and neck and back pain and each have their own style. Read their bios here.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends partly on how long you have been in pain. Acute pain is usually faster to treat than chronic pain. After your initial session you will be given a treatment plan that indicates how many sessions, and which type of sessions, you should come in for.
Does it hurt?
Acupuncture points usually feel a bit pinchy when the needles are inserted. Afterwards you may experience a heavy or achy sensation. Most people find the needle stimulation very mild. We use tiny, hair-thin needles and a gentle needling technique. Trigger points can feel a bit stronger, and often you feel a little twitch sensation. If you are worried about the needles, please mention it to your practitioner so they can walk you through it.
How soon will I notice a difference?
Some patients experience relief from back and neck pain after their first acupuncture session, while others notice a gradual improvement over several treatments. The time it takes to respond depends on the cause of the pain, how long you have had it, and your individual response to treatment. Acute muscle tension may respond more quickly, while chronic or recurring pain often requires a course of treatment. We monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan based on how you respond.
Will cupping leave marks?
Yes, cupping leaves marks on the skin when the cups are removed. Please keep them warm and covered for a couple of days, and drink a lot of water after your session.
Do you take insurance?
We are not in network with any insurance companies but will provide a superbill upon request. You may also use your HSA/FSA to pay for your sessions.
Can I keep seeing my physical therapist or chiropractor?
Yes. Acupuncture can often be used alongside physical therapy or chiropractic care. However, when possible, we recommend introducing one new treatment at a time so you can better assess what is helping and how your body responds.
If you have a herniated or bulging disc, sciatica, or pain that radiates into your arms or legs, please let your acupuncturist know before your first visit. Share any diagnosis, imaging results, and symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. This helps us tailor your treatment and determine whether acupuncture is appropriate for you. New or worsening weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin or saddle area requires urgent medical assessment.
Finding us
We are at 155 East 2nd Street in the East Village, a short walk from Union Square, the Lower East Side and Soho. Our closest subway stations are the 2nd Avenue F train (exit at 1st Avenue), and the JMZ trains at Essex Street/Delancey.
We are open seven days a week.
Book a neck or back pain session. Not sure which to choose? Call us at 212-777-4486 and reception will help.
“I love EVA they have made me feel so comfortable and are so willing to help me after going to numerous doctors and being made feel like I was not legitimate in my pain. My acupuncturists sympathize with me and really try to genuinely help me which they have!! I was basically on bed rest before I started coming and now I'm going on runs again ☺️”