Pain management
Can Acupuncture help with pain?
Yes, when most people think of acupuncture they primarily think of pain relief, and it works great!
The following is a partial list of some of the more notable pain issues acupuncture can help with.
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Acupuncture can help with nearly all types of pain by releasing endorphins in the body and relaxing muscles that are in spasm. Other techniques we often use to help relax and/or release the muscles are cupping and gua sha. It also increased circulation to the area of pain and can reduce inflammation.
Do you put needles into the areas where I hurt?
It depends on your unique situation – sometimes no, but usually, yes we do. We insert small hair-like needles into the affected areas and often patients feel relief soon after the needles are inserted or right after they are taken out. We create your treatment plan to get you out of pain as quickly as possible.
Why would I use acupuncture instead of medication?
Medication dulls the pain, but it is often still there and often causes unwanted side effects. Acupuncture can help rid you of the pain altogether. Often acupuncture is used to reduce pain so that you will not need medication or it is used to help you get off of medication sooner.
Would I use acupuncture for an acute issue?
Yes, acupuncture can be used in acute scenarios. If you have an acute situation – such as a broken bone or if you are in car accident, as just two examples – you should seek immediate treatment from an emergency medicine or primary care physician. After your diagnosis, acupuncture can help get you out of pain faster and back to your normal activities.
Does acupuncture help with chronic pain?
Yes, acupuncture can help manage chronic issues very well. Unfortunately, chronic pain sometimes means pain that will not go away. Acupuncture can help to alleviate the severity of the pain and maintain it at a tolerable level. For example, when treating patients with arthritis we will not be able to get rid of the arthritis because it is already there, but we can bring relief by managing the symptoms and preventing it from getting worse.