Managing Chronic Pain With Acupuncture

M anaging chronic pain with acupuncture is the best way to achieve physical strength and get rid of body pain. The word 'Acupuncture' might sound very luxurious and extravagant, but it is a medical procedure used by people for years. 

This procedure helps ease chronic pain around the back, neck, and muscles. 

Individuals involved in sports or similar physical activities go for acupuncture regularly to reduce the pain from excessive training.

What is Acupuncture? 

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine used by the Chinese for ages. It is considered a practice that is 3500 years older than western medicine. This technique involves the application of needles, pressure, and heat to various pressure points of the human body. 

The concept behind this technique is to restore health or chi. Chi or qi means restoration of a human's natural energy. The theory of acupuncture explains that applying pressure to the different points in the body restores an individual's natural energy. According to this theory, Illnesses or diseases occur due to imbalance and blockage of the vital life force of chi. 

Its Work Mechanism

Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system of the human body. Once stimulation occurs, the brain releases chemicals into the muscles responsible for healing chronic pain in different parts of the body. The studies carried out by the National Institutes of Health suggest that acupuncture is an effective therapy to treat the following medical conditions:

• Headaches
• Nausea caused by chemotherapy or anesthesia 
• Back Pain
• Dental Pain
• Menstrual Cramps
• Tennis Elbow
• Asthma
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Osteoarthritis
• Myofascial Pain
• Fibromyalgia 
• Addiction

Acupuncture Procedure

Pressure points are acupuncture points that are present all around the body. These are the points where a person suffers chronic pain or somewhere close or far from it. To begin with the treatment, the practitioner or acupuncture professional will outline the areas where he will put needles. After that, the practitioner will ask you to remove any piece of clothing and lie on a soft-cushioned table. He will begin with the following steps:

Insertion of Needle

The acupuncture needles are inserted at different points to relieve chronic pain. The acupuncture needles are hair-like and thin, so an individual remains comfortable during the procedure. The needle insertion takes place at a certain depth, which might cause a mild ache in the area.  

Manipulation of Needle

The practitioner applies heat and electrical energy to the inserted needles. They also twist the needles after insertion to ensure they are at an accurate depth.

Removal of Needle

The acupuncture practitioner keeps the needles in for about 10-20 minutes and then removes them softly so that nobody feels any discomfort.

Benefits of Acupuncture

The acupuncture procedure is responsible for curing most kinds of pain. Below are listed some of the benefits of Managing Chronic Pain with acupuncture:

• It reduces stress. 
• It relieves joint pain, neck pain, back pain, and pain in hands, elbows, or feet.
• It reduces constant headaches and might treat migraines.
• It eases the eyes by reducing the strain on the eyes.
• The immune system boosts after this procedure. The body becomes strong enough to fight diseases.  
• An individual's mental clarity is enhanced, leading to an energetic personality.
• The addiction to drinking or smoking is reduced by acupuncture.
• It relieves allergies and reduces the chance of common strain injuries. 

Precautionary Guidelines

The risks of opting for acupuncture are low if your acupuncture practitioner is competent and certified. A certified practitioner will always keep hygiene and sterilization of needles in mind before beginning the procedure on someone. The common side effects of acupuncture include minor bleeding and soreness around the area of needle insertion. 

To minimize the risk of reactions or side effects, acupuncture practitioners use disposable single-use needles. People with the following medical conditions should avoid acupunctures:

Pregnant Women

Acupunctures might stimulate early labor. This early labor could result in the premature birth of the baby.

People with Pacemakers

Acupuncture involves the application of electrical pulses, which might interfere with the operation of a pacemaker.

People with Bleeding Disorders

People with bleeding disorders are advised not to go for acupuncture as it might lead to excessive bleeding.

Chronic pain can sometimes be hard to manage. If left untreated, it can cause sleeplessness, mobility issues, and similar problems. Make sure to try out the aforementioned ways of managing chronic pain with acupuncture and who knows? Better days might not be very far off.