Does Acupuncture Help With Pain Management?

Around 50 million adults in the U.S. live with chronic pain. Long-term chronic pain is debilitating. From nerve damage to arthritis, there are several causes of chronic pain.

How Pain Affects Quality of Life

People with chronic pain often report a low quality of life. Around 66% of people with chronic pain have trouble falling asleep. Pain and sleep are interconnected and it affects a person’s ability to fall asleep. Lack of restorative sleep makes the pain seem worse. This triggers a vicious cycle.

Many people with chronic pain have reduced mobility and are unable to move around without assistance. Untreated pain can result in frequent hospitalizations or outpatient visits (which in turn results in lost wages and increased expenses) and decreased ability to perform everyday tasks.

Pain Medicines Are Not the Answer

Pain medications can help manage chronic pain; however, they have various side effects. A study reported that using over-the-counter pain medicines for even a short time can increase the risk for heart attack. Plus, you can relapse if you stop taking pain medication.

Additionally, pain medicines are not as effective as many people believe them to be. A study reported that only 23 percent of patients with chronic pain found opiates effective.

Acupuncture Can Help Quash Pain 

Many people use acupuncture to manage their pain. The ancient Chinese practice focuses on restoring the balance to the body to treat chronic pain.

Acupuncture is safe, minimally invasive, and drug-free. There are no known serious side effects of acupuncture. It is recognized as a safe and effective treatment for several conditions including migraine, menstrual pain, and chronic pain.

The ancient Chinese practice involves inserting extremely fine needles into the skin at acupoints in the patient’s body. This stimulates the brain to produce hormones that reduce pain and boost pleasure.

Many studies conclude that acupuncture improves the brain’s sensitivity to the body’s opioids. Many other biochemicals including GABA, substance P, ATP, and adenosine associated with pain reduction are released or regulated by acupuncture stimulation.

In a two-year survey published in 2016, 89,000 people with chronic pain were surveyed. Around 93 percent of the patients interviewed said that their acupuncturist had successfully treated their musculoskeletal pain.

A meta-analysis of 17,922 patients concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is more than just a powerful placebo, as claimed by several opponents of the ancient Chinese practice. A follow-up study found that the benefits of acupuncture persisted 12 months after the treatment ended.

So, does acupuncture help with pain management? ABSOLUTELY!

Thinking about where you can get acupuncture in Walnut Creek? Look no further than Monarch Acupuncture & Wellness. We can help you break the vicious cycle of pain. To discuss your condition with a certified acupuncturist, schedule an appointment online.