Treating Chronic Pain With Acupuncture

Living well with chronic pain

Any kind of pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks is said to be chronic pain. It is a debilitating and immensely torturous condition. It affects the daily lives of all those afflicted by it. It even affects the smallest of actions they attempt to undertake, from walking to getting out of bed, or sitting in a chair. In a study, it was shown that a half of the people undergoing chronic pain were unable to attend social or family events. The pain was a physical crutch.

Chronic pain is the counterpart of acute pain. Acute pain is a signifier of injury and is sharp pain caused by forceful trauma. It is more insidious, pain that originates from inside the body, without any obvious external causes. It may not be constantly sharp, but it can hinder a lot of the mind and body’s functions. It is possible however that pain started a long time after an initial injury or trauma. The capacity for pain was later triggered by something else.

Chronic Pain – How the Numbers Stand

It is reported that one in every five of the population suffers from chronic pain. These are worrisome statistics. Especially when, with a population that is aging in the majority, these numbers will only increase. A large majority of senior citizens living in housing and in private residences have this complaint. In this, sixty percent complain that the pain interferes with everyday activities.

Another worrying set of statistics is provided by an article by the CTV News. This survey was conducted among youngsters and children. The study showed that 20% to 35% of children under the age of eighteen suffer from chronic pain.

How is Chronic Pain Treated?

Chronic pain can make life rather miserable, as we discussed above. The pain almost leads one to the point of uselessness. Not only does it provide physical discomfort, lingering and long-lasting chronic pain can cause stress on the mind. This might lead to emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is why it is necessary to visit a physician as soon as you can. Get advice about a plan of action right away.

Many treatments exist for the ailment of chronic pain. The aim of this treatment is to make the person able to complete daily tasks can perform mundane functions. The following are a list of the various known successful treatments of chronic pain:

• Medication
• Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim for short)
• Physical Exercise
• Acupuncture

In this article, we will be discussing the effect of acupuncture treatment on chronic pain.

What is Acupuncture Treatment?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that dates back to the first century BC. It is used in order to reduce chronic pain in the body. The name of the modality pretty much sums up the technique itself. The Latin “acu” means “with a needle”. Acupuncture literally means: “to puncture with a needle”. Acupuncture is a fully-regulated modality from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In the technique, a number of needles specific to the technique are placed on some particular points on the human body. These points correspond to health and balance. They are related to the Qi. The Qi is the life force that the Chinese believe to flow within the human body in meridians and anchors.

Modern-day scholars believe these points relate to neuron pathways of the human body. It makes sense when super-imposed in a neurological model. The technique aids in stimulating these pathways and providing relief.

The Treatment of Chronic Pain with Acupuncture

Sometime in the past, acupuncture was used as a placebo. A placebo is a faux drug or medical technique used to create a feeling of healthfulness. A placebo has a psychological effect on the body. The body starts to feel better simply because the mind is aware that it has taken a medication or treatment of some kind and should now get better.

Recent studies have proven otherwise. The health-augmentation provided by acupuncture treatments to those suffering from chronic pain seemed to be more intense and long-lasting than a simple placebo effect. It actually helps. Acupuncture releases endorphins inside the human brain, the chemicals that make you happy. The release of these endorphins helps boost the body’s natural defense. This increases the body’s immunity and self-preservation.

To demystify how exotic the technique feels, we infer that Electrical Stimulation and Acupuncture have a similar function. This function is the stimulation of the nerve endings present in the body. This action might aid with chronic pain in the knee, the elbow, the lower back, and even migraines. Acupuncture allows for the removal of resistances in the path of the body’s energy flow. This makes it healthier and more efficient.

Acupuncture can be used to treat:

• Musculoskeletal chronic pain
• Migraines and Cervicogenic headaches
• Back pain
• Emotional disorders

How Safe is Using Acupuncture in Treating Chronic Pain?

Much of the skepticism surrounding the technique of acupuncture stems from the fact that seems rather bizarre. Puncturing the body with needles in order to remove pain seems to be a concept quite hard to grasp. Needles make a lot of people nervous. However, results and studies are now proof of the beneficial effects of using acupuncture in order to treat chronic pain and other physiological and emotional issues.

The procedure must always be carried out by an expert and well-trained professional. The treatment is not only safe but also advised to anyone suffering from chronic pain issues. It is necessary to only take the treatment under the advisement of an expert. In the hands of a qualified practitioner, the procedure is not just safe, but completely painless.

Pillars of Wellness in Burlington treats many conditions with an integrated care approach. The clinic provides different services such as physiotherapy services, chiropractic, counseling, speech therapy, and acupuncture to name a few.