Understanding the Role of Acupuncture in Relieving Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is experienced by millions of people worldwide, greatly diminishing their quality of life. When people do a quick search for Acupuncture near me, all they look for is the possibility of safe, drug-free ways to treat chronic back and neck pain. Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, involves inserting thin needles at specific points in the body to reduce the inflammation and improve the blood and lymph circulation.

Acupuncture is thought to modulate pain through several mechanisms:

• The needles inserted can stimulate the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, natural painkillers of the body, and thus lessen the feeling of pain.
• Acupuncture works by blocking the pain signal from being transmitted to the brain so the perception of the pain will be modified.

Recent Case Study Observing the Efficacy of Acupuncture

One study, in the issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, explored acupuncture’s response to chronic sciatica caused by herniated discs. Chinese investigators examined 288 participants with at least 3 months of sciatica. Patients received either 10 sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture over four weeks.

Patients in the acupuncture group, the results showed, experienced clinically meaningful pain reductions and function improvements, with those effects continuing for a year. More specifically, visual analog scale scores for leg pain dropped by 30.8 mm in the acupuncture group and 14.9 mm in the sham group. Also, the acupuncture group had a reduction of 13.0 points in Oswestry Disability Index scores compared with a reduction of 4.9 points in the control group, after 4 week of acupuncture treatment. These results further support the use of acupuncture as an effective, evidence-based, non-pharmacological treatment for chronic sciatica. Sufficient dosage is the key to achieve the therapeutic effect. Twice or three times a week for 10 to 12 treatments are essential in order to get rid of back and sciatica pain.

Managing Chronic Pain Conditions through Acupuncture

The Use of Acupuncture for a Range of Chronic Pain Disorders

Aside from Sciatica, while searching for acupuncture near me, individuals are shown promising outcomes for other chronic pain disorders:

• Chronic low back pain: Acupuncture therapies are often effective for chronic low back pain because acupuncture can relax the muscles and help realign the joints.
• Migraines and Headaches: Acupuncture can help reduce the inflammation in the blood vessels to relive the migraines and headaches.
• Osteoarthritis: Acupuncture helps strengthen and balance the muscles and ligaments around the joints, so the joints are more stable and function better.
• Neck pain and shoulder pain: acupuncture helps reduce the inflammation and relax muscles at the neck and upper shoulder areas to avoid shooting pain and hand numbness.

How to Look for Licensed Acupuncturists

When seeking a practitioner for “acupuncture near me,” here are some important factors to consider:

• Credentials: Check that the practitioner is licensed and certified by applicable acupuncture or medical boards. In China, the medical training for at least 5 years is required for acupuncturist and herbalist. Furthermore, Chinese acupuncturist need to have at least 5 years residence training in Chinese and western medicine.
• Specialization: Seek doctors who have extensive experience treating your medical condition. For example, if you live in Boston, and just search for acupuncture near Boston, then it will give you references of good specialists in that area. You may need to add the medical condition to your search: acupuncture near me back pain.
• Recommendations: Reviews from previously treated patients can also offer a glimpse into how effective the practitioner is, as well as their relationship with patients.

Conclusion

Acupuncture is holistic in that it addresses the physical and emotional components of the chronic pain experience. For example, anyone in Boston Googling "acupuncture near Boston" will find themselves on a link that leads them to an experienced practitioner who will help in their quest for a healthier, pain-free body.