Pain Management
There are a lot of pain syndromes that Acupuncture can be pretty effective in treating them, to name a few we can think of Headaches, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Joint Pain, PMS Pain, Painful Periods, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Back Pain, Ankle Pain, Heel Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Leg Pain, Sciatica, Cancer Pain, etc.
Acute Pain is usually caused by the following reasons.
Surgery
Broken bones
Dental work
Burns or cuts
Menstruation
Labor and childbirth
Acute pain may last less than 3-6 months. Acute pain is usually sharp at least in the beginning. It can disrupt usual daily activities, once the reason for the pain is removed or resolved that pain will go away.
Chronic Pain is usually linked to the following conditions.
Headache
Arthritis
Gout
Nerve Pain
Fibromyalgia
Disc Injuries
Cancer
Chronic pain can usually last longer than 6 months, it is a kind of dragging and ongoing pain. Chronic pain can go on even after the cause of pain is gone or the injury or illness has resolved.
Chronic pain can have physical effects and stresses the body. It physically can cause tense muscles, limited range of motion, fatigue, appetite changes, etc. It can also have psycho-emotional impacts, such as depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of getting inured again.
Acupuncture and TCM for pain management
No matter acute or chronic, TCM has the theory of pain of itself.
Tong zhi bu tong = With free flow of Qi there is no pain, Without free flow of Qi there is pain. This is a saying in Chinese Medicine.
Acupuncture can facilitate the Qi flow and relieve the pain consequently. Chinese herbal medicine can also work similarly as herbs can improve the free flow of Qi and relieve pain.
When a needle is inserted to an acupoint, its major function is to activate the meridian that the point is located on, in addition of its specific function. That activation of meridian can contribute to pain relief. Also according to western research acupuncture can cause production of anti-pain chemicals "endorphins" in the blood stream that can help relieve the pain.
Acupuncture points to treat pain of any type are all over your body, not just over the affected area. During treatment, small needles may be inserted along your arms and legs, as well as the affected area. The frequency and number of treatments will vary according to your pain condition and its severity.
Several studies have shown that Acupuncture can help people with pain syndromes including arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, etc. In one Scandinavian study, 25% of arthritis patients who had been scheduled for knee surgery cancelled their operation after receiving a series of Acupuncture treatments.