See also: Arthritis, Back Pain, Sport Injuries, Fibromyalgia, Orthopedic Injuries

Acupuncture has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to be effective in the treatment of pain without side effects. Even the most discerning insurance companies recognize the efficacy of acupuncture and often cover its use in the treatment of pain, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, post-operative pain, sprains and injuries, pain caused by chemotherapy or radiation, migraines, and painful periods.

How Acupuncture Works in Treating Chronic Pain

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain is usually the result of stagnant Qi or Blood. On occasion, there are underlying or additional patterns that may include a deficiency of Qi or Blood preventing circulation; Dampness which results in heavy sensations; or Heat which leads to recurring inflammation. . While Western medicine and research has established conclusively that acupuncture helps relieve pain, it has not yet been able to successfully explain how. Theories include that acupuncture works with neurons, dermatomes, or the hormones in the body, but none of these explanations fully explain its efficacy across all kinds of pain – systemic, local, auto-immune, and hormonal.

What You Can Expect From Acupuncture

Diagnosis

Your history is important in understanding the reasons for pain. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses your tongue as a map of the internal organs and your radial pulses as a barometer to the state of your Qi and Blood to assess the root cause of your pain and which meridians are involved.

Treatment Course

There are specific acupuncture points to treat certain kinds of pain. For example, there are points that have been researched as effective for acute lower back pain, knee pain, tendon pain and inflammation, neck pain, headaches, mild appendicitis, nausea that accompanies gastric pain, or migraines. In addition, we will select points that treat the root cause to promote wellness or to speed the recovery from injury or illness. Because pain constrains the spirit, we will also target relaxing and calming the mind to allow for deeper realignment with health.

Depending on the length of time with pain, patients generally notice at least some reduction in pain after the first treatment and marked improvement within or after three treatments. Thereafter, a protocol is prescribed for chronic cases to set up periodic or regular treatments for long-term healing. If the pain is based on an injury, acupuncture and herbs can support a faster healing process and prevent future arthritis in that area.

Treatment modalities include acupuncture, herbal medicines, TENS or electrical stimulation, cupping, herbal oils, and, when warranted, gentle exercises.

Western Medicine Treatment for Chronic Pain

Most pain in Western medicine is treated with varying degrees of “pain killers,” some of which work by reducing inflammation in the body (e.g., NSAIDs or corticosteroids) and some of which work by preventing the brain from sensing pain (opiates). While these can be effective at reducing the pain, some patients note that their side effects are extreme1 and/or that their pain is not healed long-term. Acupuncture can not only help relieve pain and treat its underlying cause. When narcotics or steroids are appropriate, acupuncture can help reduce the side effects of those pain medications and/or increase their potency.