Chronic pain is defined as any pain that lasts over 12 weeks. Unfortunately, many people suffer from chronic pain for years. While typical treatments, like ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and appropriate exercises, can often ease chronic pain, there is another treatment that many people don’t think of when looking for relief– acupuncture. Acupuncture, thanks to its good track record, is an option worth considering, especially with what we are learning about the serious risks that result from long-term use of pain medication. Over the years, there has been a substantial debate about whether acupuncture really works for chronic pain. Recent research featured in the Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA) stated that “acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.” Other recent studies found that acupuncture “relieved pain by about 50%” for most patients. Additionally, researchers noted that participants receiving acupuncture reported improvements in overall health and reductions in social, emotional and educational problems (for young participants).
Acupuncture uses the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin at specific points around the body, concentrating on the area of pain. Best of all, it is virtually painless. Acupuncture works for pain by affecting neurotransmitters and hormones and stimulating the body to release endorphins (the body’s natural pain killer). Weekly treatments are usually scheduled in the beginning with treatments lessening as pain decreases.
If you suffer from chronic pain and are looking for relief and reduced dependents on pain medication, acupuncture may be the answer.
