Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system, whether from a pinched nerve, bulging discs, herniated discs, sciatica, arthritis or other conditions can be very frustrating for the sufferer. Sometimes, pain alerts us to injuries and illnesses that need attention. Although pain usually goes away once the underlying problem is addressed, it can last for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic pain may be due to an ongoing condition (such as arthritis) or to abnormal activity in pain-sensing regions of the brain, or the cause may not be known.
To relieve their pain, many people take over-the-counter medications—either acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes nerve pain does not respond well to these prescription pain relievers which can cause severe side effects.
If you suffer from chronic pain and you are unable to find relief, you may find help by using alternative medicine treatments.
Chinese medicine is an effective therapy for the treatment of various pain disorders. Each condition a patient presents with is treated based on a very specific diagnosis that acupuncturists make after a thorough evaluation. Treatment is based primarily on the location and quality of the pain. Determining the pathway of pain (affected meridian), allows for specific placement of the needles in order to alleviate the pain. The goal in treating pain is to move the congestion of “Qi” in the affected meridians. By releasing the tension of congested “Qi” more blood is able to come to the compromised area. This allows the muscles to relax and regain their proper function.
Many other modalities, in addition to acupuncture, are used to treat pain. Tuina (Chinese massage) is another important modality used to encourage the flow of “Qi” and blood through the meridians. Cupping is an ancient practice still used in many countries to treat pain. Glass cups are placed on specific areas of the body after creating a vacuum that gently lifts the muscle off the body to bring greater blood flow to the affected area. Moxibustion (warming therapy) is another technique used to treat pain. Topical herb compresses or internal herbal medicine can also be prescribed to help speed the recovery of injuries or treat chronic pain.
There are little to no side effects to acupuncture treatments. This is a welcome benefit for those that are concerned about the adverse effects of pain medicine, steroids, and surgery. Cathy has assisted hundreds of patients in regaining their quality of life by relieving pain.
