The chronic neck and shoulder pain you have endured for many years may not be only a matter of tight muscle or stress from work. It may be a sign of something more complex: "a nerve bound by fascia so that it cannot work fully," or fascia compressing a nerve. And if it is left too long, the effects may spread to the quality of your sleep, your mental health, and even depression. Today we will introduce you to neurofascial release, a modern treatment technique that is changing the lives of people who have suffered chronic pain for many years, together with the true story of a "senior executive" who almost lost everything because of pain, until he found treatment that reached the target and got his life back.

What kind of chronic pain do you have?

Before we understand the treatment, it is important to recognise the character of the pain you are experiencing, because each type of pain may point to a different cause. Observing the symptoms in detail helps the doctor diagnose and plan treatment correctly and more quickly.

Pain treated for years without resolving

Many people with chronic pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or back are usually told it is because of "tight muscle," "sitting at work for long periods," or "incorrect posture." Certainly these factors do contribute to the symptoms. But in many cases, particularly pain treated for years without resolving, you may have tried massage, physiotherapy, painkillers, or even steroid injections, and the symptoms have returned again and again. The true cause may not be the muscle alone.

Pain that affects sleep

When the pain is severe enough to keep you from sleeping, or to wake you in the night, it means the problem has spread to a level that seriously affects quality of life. Sleeplessness means the body does not rest enough, the brain does not work fully, and the immune system weakens. Worse still, lack of sleep makes the pain feel more severe, creating a vicious circle that is hard to break.

Pain that comes with stress and depression

Chronic pain does not affect the body alone but greatly affects mental health as well. When you have to endure pain every day, cannot do the activities you used to enjoy, and cannot work fully, stress gradually builds up until it may lead to depression. Many people who come to the doctor with chronic pain are found to have depression as well, and these two conditions usually reinforce each other: the more pain there is, the more stress and sadness.

A true story from a CEO who almost lost everything

A senior executive at a leading company, responsible for heavy work, meetings every day, and important decisions all the time. But one thing made him suffer more than his workload: severe neck and shoulder pain that had lasted more than 10 years.

A life dominated by pain

This executive had severe neck and shoulder pain all the time, even though he had tried massage, physiotherapy, and treatment in several places. It never improved permanently. Sometimes it improved temporarily, but before long it was as bad as before. The pain kept him from sleeping; he had to turn over all night, and woke feeling exhausted and unrefreshed. His body did not rest, his brain did not work fully, and meetings and important decisions became a heavy burden.

As time passed, the pain that would not resolve and the sleeplessness built up his stress, until in the end a psychiatrist diagnosed depression. He began to feel discouraged, without the will to go on, and almost gave up on treatment, thinking he might have to live with this pain for ever.

The turning point at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic

Then he came to see a rehabilitation medicine physician at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic. The medical team assessed his symptoms in detail and comprehensively, not looking at the pain alone but also considering its effects on his sleep and mental health.

The diagnosis found that he had chronic myofascial pain syndrome, with trigger points at several sites in the neck, upper back, and shoulders; neurofascial entrapment, in which hardened and thickened fascia was binding and compressing the nerves in the neck and upper back, so that the pain spread and grew more severe; and depression and insomnia, arising together from the chronic pain.

This was not merely a problem of ordinary tight muscle, but a vicious circle in which pain, stress, sleeplessness, and depression reinforced one another.

The integrated treatment plan that changed a life

The medical team at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic designed an individual treatment plan for this executive, focused on correcting the root of the problem rather than merely easing the symptoms temporarily, with integrated treatment in 4 main techniques.

Neurofascial Release

This was the main technique that changed his life. The doctor uses a fine needle and specially concentrated saline (hydrodissection) injected into the fascial layer binding the nerve. The saline "separates" the hardened fascia from the nerve, releasing it so that the nerve works normally again. Pain, numbness, and burning therefore decrease quickly.

This treatment requires a high level of skill. The doctor uses high-frequency sound waves (diagnostic ultrasound) to see the nerve and the fascia in real time, to be sure that the injection is on target and safe.

Dry Needling

The doctor uses the dry needling technique, inserting a needle into the trigger points to stimulate the muscle to release, increase blood flow, and reduce acute pain. When the needle reaches the trigger point, the muscle twitches locally (a local twitch response), which is a sign that the muscle knot is successfully releasing.

High-Power Laser Therapy

High-power laser penetrates as deep as 5-6 centimetres into the tissue, stimulating the production of ATP, the energy of the cell, helping cells repair themselves faster, reducing inflammation, and speeding the process of recovery. The patient feels a comfortable warmth, without pain and without side effects.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Because this executive had sleeplessness and depression, the doctor used the TMS technique, using magnetic waves to stimulate the part of the brain that controls the sleep cycle and mood, without medication. It helps the brain return to balanced working, improves the quality of sleep, and reduces depression. This technique is internationally accepted, supported by research, and can be used alongside physical treatment perfectly well.

A result beyond expectation

After only a few treatments, this executive began to feel a clear change — not merely a slight improvement, but a change that transformed his life completely.

The results obtained:

  • The level of pain fell from 100% to only 10%. The neck and shoulder pain that had tormented him for 10 years decreased significantly. He could turn his neck, raise his arm, and move without pain getting in the way.
  • Sleeping soundly and waking refreshed. No longer waking in the night because of pain. Body and brain rested fully, and energy and clear thinking came back.
  • Free of the cycle of depression. Once the pain was gone and sleep was good, his mental health gradually recovered. He could smile again, had the will to work, and saw the world more positively.
  • Back at work at full capacity. He could manage his work with confidence, decide clearly, and be a strong leader for his team again.

Why is neurofascial release different from older treatment?

You may wonder why this executive was treated for 10 years, went to several places, and tried several methods, but never recovered, until he met the neurofascial release technique. The answer lies in "looking for the true root of the problem." Ordinary treatment, such as massage, physiotherapy, or painkillers, usually helps ease the symptoms temporarily but does not correct the cause. Massage can release the muscle, but if the fascia is still binding the nerve, the symptoms will return — like watering a tree whose roots are pinned under a stone: however much you water it, it will not grow. By contrast, neurofascial release treats exactly at the root, using a needle and saline to separate the fascial layer from the nerve, with high precision from high-frequency sound waves, safely, without surgery, with fast recovery. And once the nerve is released, the body can repair itself fully. The pain therefore goes for good and does not come back.

Who is this treatment suitable for

Neurofascial release is a good option for several groups of people with chronic pain, particularly in the following cases:

Groups suited to this treatment:

  • People with chronic pain treated without resolving — who have tried treatment in several places, with massage, physiotherapy, medication, and steroid injection, but whose symptoms have not improved permanently or come back again and again
  • People with numbness, burning, or pain radiating down the arm or leg — a clear sign that a nerve is being compressed or bound. These symptoms usually do not respond well to ordinary treatment
  • Office workers with severe office syndrome — chronic pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, and back from sitting at work for long periods, until it affects work, sleep, and quality of life
  • Athletes or people who exercise and have repeated injury — repeated injury in the same place may arise from fascia binding a nerve, so that muscle and joint work out of balance
  • Older adults with pain and difficulty moving — hardened fascia is a problem often found in older adults. Separating the fascial layers by injection helps them move better, reduces the pain, and increases quality of life

Do not wait for pain to take over your life

The story of this executive is only one of many showing that chronic pain can be cured if you find the right approach that reaches the target. You do not have to endure pain any longer. You do not have to let pain destroy your sleep, your mental health, and your quality of life.

If you or someone you love is facing chronic pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, or back, treated without resolving, or has numbness, burning, or radiating pain that may be a sign of fascia binding a nerve, do not wait for the problem to grow severe enough to affect quality of life and mental health.

Begin the road to recovery and getting your life back, as he did.

PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic

Management of pain and musculoskeletal disorders, by specialist physicians

Location:
999 Room BF-11, Floor L, Gaysorn Village
Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
(near BTS Chit Lom)
Free valet parking

Opening hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 16:30-20:00
  • Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00

PYONG Rehabilitation Penthouse Clinic

Care for older adults and neurological rehabilitation, by a team of specialist doctors and allied health professionals

Location:
127 Room K, Floor 11, Gaysorn Tower
Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Opening hours:

  • Monday-Friday: 10:00-20:00
  • Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00