Acupuncture For Pain Management

There Are Many Ways to Treat Pain

Pain of any kind, whether it be acute or chronic, can be debilitating and restricting. Modern pain management often involves the use of over-the-counter painkillers, prescription medication (from heavy dose NSAIDS to opioids), and anti-inflammatory/steroid injections; all of which tend to provide relief, but can also have harmful side effects in cases of prolonged use.

When the daily ibuprofen or monthly cortisone shot doesn’t seem to help anymore, surgery can feel like the last and best option for those suffering from pain. While beneficial in their own right, more invasive procedures can be costly and have  various risks associated. Many may require long recovery periods during which patients have their fingers crossed in hopes the surgery was fully successful.

There are a variety of ways to combat and manage pain before going under the knife, most of which are non-invasive, non-addictive, and have more helpful than harmful side effects (in both the body and brain) with regularly scheduled treatments. Options range from acupuncture for chronic pain, to changing your diet, managing your stressors effectively and modifying your lifestyle.

Acupuncture for Pain Management

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the ancient therapy in which hair-thin needles are inserted into the skin at specific stimulatory points throughout the body. This age-old practice is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, and is implemented in a wide range of conditions from anxiety and insomnia to digestive issues, gynecological ailments and⁠—you guessed it⁠—pain of all kinds.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture aims to restore the flow of our endogenous (internal) vital energy, or “Qi”, throughout the several meridians (energetic channels) of our body. TCM and other Eastern medical approaches teach that illness or discomfort results from a disruption or stagnation of Qi, and that restoring proper Qi flow is imperative to the healing process. Eastern medicine teaches that those strategic locations throughout the body are located at important muscle, nerve, and tissue points, and that direct stimulation can encourage the body to recover.

This therapy has evolved to include methods of stimulation other than simply needling the point itself: including electrostimulation, the use of heat and/or light, needling at the nerve route (known as neuro-acupuncture) and pressure application. In addition to these other stimulatory mechanisms, both Dr. Lana and Lauren offer cupping and Gua Sha to complement acupuncture and optimize treatment benefits.

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Pain takes several forms. For those living with chronic pain, management can be discouraging and exhausting. Acute pain can appear difficult to treat, but is easily handled with acupuncture and cupping. Acupuncture can help manage pain from many sources, including: