When something is wrong with the body, the nervous system gives alerts in the form of pain. Unlike acute pain that comes and goes after an affliction is diagnosed and treated, chronic pain is long term.
Chronic pain is commonly dealt with pain relievers. However, intake of too many drugs can lead to some unwanted side effects, which is why you may first consider using non-drug-related treatments, such as acupuncture.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a complementary therapy to conventional standards of care. The therapy involves acupuncturists or professionals like chiropractors inserting very thin needles into the skin at strategic points around the body.
This approach relieves pain by re-balancing the body’s energy flow, introduced by the Chinese as qi (pronounced, “chee”). Acupuncture is known to help in chronic knee osteoarthritis, neck pain, lower back pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and migraines. If you experience some of these chronic pains, consult your doctor on if you should try this increasingly popular alternative.
Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Pain
Studies that involve sham acupuncture exhibit that patients who received true acupuncture experienced more pain reduction than those who had sham or no acupuncture. Sham acupuncture is generally used in scientific studies, where a non-penetrating technique is performed away from acupuncture points. This difference between true and sham acupuncture proves that true acupuncture is more than just a placebo.
Many patients report that acupuncture therapy is effective for chronic pain, including headache, back and neck pain, shoulder pain, and osteoarthritis. It has a cumulative effect, so your sessions with your chiropractor may gradually reduce as you experience reduced pain and achieve treatment goals.
Sciatica
The pain brought by sciatica can often be severe. However, sciatica usually does not require invasive treatments, except for very serious cases. Over the years, more studies have emerged, proving the effectiveness of acupuncture for this condition. In particular, acupuncture can relieve and decrease pain intensity for patients with sciatica.
Neck Pain
A study from the University of Southampton had 135 patients, 18 to 80 years old, with chronic neck pain, attend acupuncture treatments. The patients received eight treatments of acupuncture over four weeks or a simulated electrical stimulation on acupuncture points. At the end of their trials, the patients responded with reduced neck pain levels of more than 60%.
Lower Back Pain
Clinical trials also show that patients who underwent acupuncture treatment experienced lower back pain relief and improved movement compared to those who did not receive acupuncture therapy. Likewise, research also shows that when acupuncture is added to other conventional therapies, patients may experience better results with pain relief in contrast with conventional therapy done alone.
Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Pain in Delaware
Living with chronic pain can affect your quality of life because it can hamper your everyday activities. At the same time, chronic pain can restrict you from thoroughly enjoying your hobbies and other physical activities. If you are dealing with chronic pain and would like to maximize your treatment options, consult our pain specialists at Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers to know if acupuncture therapy is good for you.
If you are interested in having your acupuncture treatment with us, you may visit or contact our locations in Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Smyrna, and Dover. You may also schedule a consultation with our friendly staff through our online contact form for your convenience. We look forward to being your pain management partner!
