How Acupuncture Can Relieve Chronic Pain

Acupuncture is an ancient form of treatment that has roots in China dating back more than 2,000 years. It involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.

Although it’s considered a type of alternative medicine, acupuncture has been shown to relieve a wide range of symptoms, including chronic pain. Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts longer than three months, and it can have a serious impact on your quality of life.

Adam Redlich, MD, and Adam Thompson, DO, at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine in Neptune and Robbinsville, New Jersey, are very knowledgeable regarding the benefits of acupuncture, and they’re very experienced in performing this type of treatment. In this blog, they explain more about the impacts of chronic pain, how acupuncture can provide relief, and what you can expect during treatment.

The basics of chronic pain

More than 20% of American adults have chronic pain. It’s a complex condition that’s often the result of an underlying health condition, such as an injury, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or nerve damage.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for longer than three months, and it can have a profound impact on the people who experience it. Chronic pain can erode your quality of life by interfering with your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy daily activities.

Unfortunately, chronic pain is often difficult to treat. Medication, physical therapy, surgery, and other treatments can make a difference for some people, but not everyone. The good news is, if traditional methods haven’t relieved your pain, acupuncture may be able to help you get relief.

How acupuncture can deliver relief

Acupuncture is a natural, minimally invasive therapy that works by stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities. The theory behind acupuncture is that there are energy pathways, or meridians, that run throughout the body, and when these pathways get blocked, illness and pain can result.

By inserting needles into specific points along these pathways, acupuncturists aim to unblock this energy and restore flow throughout the body. Acupuncture therapy can also boost your endorphin levels, which are your body’s natural painkillers. This, in turn, can reduce pain and enhance your sense of well-being.

Acupuncture can also stimulate your immune system to reduce inflammation and encourage healing from within. And while the medical community still has much to learn about acupuncture therapy, current research is promising. Reports have found that acupuncture can help treat arthritis, back pain, and other chronic pain conditions.

What to expect when you get acupuncture for chronic pain

First, our team performs a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your chronic pain and develop a customized treatment plan. Then, to perform treatment, we insert very thin needles into specific points on your body, particularly around the areas where you feel pain. We usually leave the needles in place for 20-30 minutes. Then, you’re free to go home.

Most people report significant pain relief after several acupuncture sessions, but the full effects of acupuncture can take several weeks to manifest. And, because it’s natural and drug-free, you can safely combine acupuncture with other treatments to better manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

With its natural approach to healing and its ability to relieve chronic pain, acupuncture can be an excellent option to manage chronic pain. To learn more about this therapy and to see if it may be able to help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with A+ Athlete Sports Medicine today.