Pain in the neck - literally

I posted previously about an ache that has developed in the back of my neck. I have been doing some research on various practitioners and methods of pain relief. I've read about chiropractors, reiki, massage therapy, acupuncture, healing touch, and on and on. I tossed some ideas out to the Holistic Moms email loops. Quite a discussion resulted, focused mainly on chiropractic. There is definitely a chiro positive team, and a chiro negative team. The skeptics question the need for constant chiropractic care, up to three times per week. The pro team argues that it is simply maintenance, arguing that we go to the dentist every six months to take care of our teeth, why not our spine? And so forth. Reiki, a totally new concept to me, involves energy flow in the body, and comes with its own pro team and skeptics. Wikipedia reports that "There is no scientific evidence for either the existence of ki or any mechanism for its manipulation, and a systematic review of randomized clinical trialsconducted in 2008 did not support the efficacy of reiki or its recommendation for use in the treatment of any condition.^[7][8]"
Hm. But it's not hard to find practitioners, who manage to stay employed... Massage is a fun idea, but does it heal? The woman I spoke with yesterday at a holistic practice seemed to think so. Though she used to be a massage therapist, so... Acupuncture. I haven't researched this too much yet. It is not my first choice. I'm a little squirrelly about people touching me anyway, and to stick little needles in me...well, I just don't know if I could deal. Even the thought makes me squirm. But I know people who feel it is a good thing. Healing touch has something to do with helping people to deal with emotional issues through touch....no thanks. Then someone I know was telling me about kinesiology. I had heard that word before, from the Holistic Moms loops, as something that some chiros practice. But this person was telling me about kinesiology as a practice all its own. She had seen someone for fibromyalgia pain and other stuff. She found this treatment, provided in a woman's home, to be more helpful, overall, than any other she had received. And she says she's "done it all." Hm.

They can all sound wonderful, and they can all sound questionable, depending on who you ask. So what is the result of all this?

I'm back to square one, confused by it all, and unable to pick a direction to move in. So I'm going to divide myself into practitioner and client. And give myself a treatment plan.

Dr. Me: What has brought you to yourself today?

Client Me: Blah de blah ache in my neck blahblah two kids blah de jump on me yaddayadda body hurts blah lack of sleep yadda

Dr. Me: Oh poor you! You work SO hard and you're terribly depleted. You deserve a week-long caribbean cruise! I'll write you a prescription right away!

Client Me: Blad de blah attachment parent blah don't like to be away from my kids for too long yadda

Dr. Me: Oh! You're one of those self-sacrificing types.

Client Me: (humbly) Yeah...

Dr. Me: No brainer. You need good sleep, exercise, outdoor time every day (sun exposure combats seasonal affective d/o and generally improves the mood,) yoga to ease sore muscles and release stress, time to yourself alone and time with friends, a healthy diet.

Client Me: I like the cruise idea better.

Dr. Me: Alas.

Ow! Yoga vs. chiropractic or other intervention

In the past few weeks, I have developed an almost chronic pain in my upper back/neck region. It feels like muscle fatigue, but it's hard to say. I tend to hold my tension in this area as well, but I'm ruling that out as I'm not terribly tense. (Or at least I'm not aware of being terribly tense...) My tendency is to turn to yoga for this sort of thing, and that usually does the trick right away. That's what I've done this time, with good results, but if I skip a DAY the ache finds its way back. My shoulders are uneven, and have been for years upon years. I blame this on carrying terribly overloaded back packs on one shoulder (left) for year after year after year. (that's a topic for another day - kids have TOO MUCH STUFF to carry around for school!!!!!) I also have either carpal tunnel syndrome or scalenus anticus syndrome (sp) depending on who you ask. Either way, if I do any repetitive motion stuff with my hands, I get tingling in both hands, sometimes pain during the night, and occasionally stiffness in the morning. So I'm starting off with a deficit to be sure! However, I've never encountered a pain that I wasn't able to ultimately manage and make go away. I am wondering what to do. I have been considering seeing a chiropractor. I have never been. I have been curious for a long time. An MD who I trust and adore, my father, does not feel this is the way to go. But so many others swear by this kind of treatment. I just don't know. I carry my kids every day, I don't get enough exercise, I never sleep perfectly (though recently very well, thank you children!) Perhaps I should try daily exercise and yoga first. But ouch. =(