One of the most common ailments that we see here is pain. Back pain, knee pain, wrist pain…we treat musculoskeletal pain all over the body. Acupuncture can treat pain that is acute (like a back sprain from shoveling snow) or chronic (i.e. lingering back pain caused by a herniated disc or chronic knee pain after running).
Acupuncture is effective in treating pain because:
- Acupuncture reduces inflammation.
- Acupuncture increases blood circulation, helping to heal any tissue damage or tears.
- Stimulating certain acupuncture points trigger the release of endorphins, which are neurochemicals that assist in pain relief.
When a patient comes in with body pain, we do an assessment for pain intensity, location, range of motion and obtain other necessary information. Based on this, we typically recommend a series of treatments over the course of a few weeks and then re-assess. Typically if your level of pain is high (5 – 10/10), we recommend coming in for acupuncture at least twice per week for 3 weeks and then we re-assess at that point and continue treatment as necessary.
Some patients get instant relief while others get relief over time. Everyone’s body is different and heals at different speeds. It’s important to remember that acupuncture is a process, not a pill and requires a commitment to your body and a little patience.