1. Causes of Acute Torticollis
One morning you wake up and suddenly feel pain on one side of your neck, difficulty moving it, and the pain worsens especially when turning your head, even causing your neck to tilt to one side? This may be a sign of acute torticollis!
In traditional medicine, this condition is called "lac cham" or "that cham."
Acute torticollis usually occurs due to:
An improper sleeping position, with a pillow that is too high or too firm, causing the head and neck to become misaligned.
Prolonged strain on the neck muscles, such as the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, causing pain.
In addition, cervical spine degeneration or exposure to cold can also contribute to worsening the condition.
2. How to Manage Acute Torticollis
When experiencing the above symptoms, you can apply several methods to treat acute torticollis:
2.1. Warm Compress & Warming Massage
You can use an herbal pouch, coarse salt, or a heating pad applied to the painful area of the neck to relieve pain. In addition, you can warm your hands and, possibly combined with massage liniment, gently massage the affected area of the neck until the skin feels warm. This will soften and relax the muscles, helping them loosen.
2.2. Finding and Releasing Trigger Points
Contracted points in the neck area can cause local pain and referred pain. Finding and releasing these points will help relieve neck pain and improve range of motion. Gently rub the painful area of the neck with your hand; when you find a spot that is painful or a muscle area that is stiffer than the surrounding area, gently massage it clockwise at that location for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
2.3. Pressing Specific Acupoints Such As Xuanzhong and Luozhen
Using your thumb or a blunt object, press on the acupoint, then massage clockwise for 2-3 minutes. You can press for 1 minute, rest for a few seconds, and continue. When pressing the acupoint, you will clearly feel a sensation of pressure, heaviness, or slight soreness at the location. At the same time, turn your neck toward the direction with limited movement, gradually increasing the range of rotation.
Note: The process of pressing the acupoint and turning the neck should be done at the same time.
3. How to Locate the Acupoints
Xuanzhong is the 39th acupoint on the Gallbladder Meridian; since this meridian passes through the neck, this point also corresponds to the neck, and is therefore commonly used in treating neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. In addition, this point also helps relieve sciatic nerve pain, improve lower limb paralysis, and ankle joint pain.
This point is also called Juegu, where "Jue" means "the final segment," and "Gu" means "bone." Notably, the Xuanzhong point is also the meeting point of the Marrow and serves as the connecting point of the three yang meridians of the foot, linking with the Bladder Meridian, Gallbladder Meridian, and Stomach Meridian.
How to locate the point: From the prominence of the lateral malleolus, measure up 3 cun (equivalent to 4 finger-widths: index, middle, ring, and little finger), the point is located in front of the fibula.
The Luozhen point is located on the back of the hand, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones (index and middle fingers), about 0.5 cun (~1 cm) from the metacarpophalangeal joint. This point helps treat torticollis, relieve neck and shoulder pain, stomach pain, and sore throat...
Typically, a treatment course of the above method takes about 3 to 4 sessions to help improve symptoms of torticollis.
4. When Should You See a Doctor?
If you have tried the above methods but symptoms do not improve, or if you have the following signs, you should go to a medical facility for examination:
Acute neck pain accompanied by numbness radiating to the shoulder, arm, or up to the back of the head.
Acute torticollis accompanied by arm weakness or high fever.
Unexplained weight loss.
Timely medical intervention will help accurately diagnose the cause and provide an appropriate treatment method.