Acupuncture Is Effective For Chronic Pain

Chronic pain in the muscles and joints can make life miserable. Standard treatments like ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and appropriate exercises can ease the pain. But when they don’t, acupuncture is an option with an excellent track record ’s worth considering.

Over the years, there has been substantial debate about whether acupuncture works for chronic pain. Research from an international team of experts adds to the evidence it does provide significant relief from common forms of pain. The team pooled the results of 29 studies involving nearly 18,000 participants. Some had acupuncture, some had “sham” acupuncture, and some didn’t have acupuncture at all. Acupuncture relieved the pain by about 50%. The results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study isn’t the last word on the issue, but it is one of the best quality studies to date and has made an impression.

“I think the benefit of acupuncture is clear, and the complications and potential adverse effects of acupuncture are low compared with medication,” says Dr Lucy Chen, a board-certified anesthesiologist, a specialist in pain medicine, and practising acupuncturist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

How does it work?

Acupuncturists insert hair-thin needles into the skin at specific points around the body. It is virtually painless when done by an experienced practitioner. Inserting the needles is supposed to correct imbalances in the body's flow of energy, called qi (pronounced “chee”). In Western scientific terms, acupuncture is expected to ease pain by affecting neurotransmitters, hormone levels, or the immune system.

For new pain, an acupuncturist should not always be your first stop. Dr Chen recommends individuals have clear diagnoses of what is causing their pain to rule out serious medical conditions that should be treated right away—and then seek out acupuncture if appropriate.

• How often is acupuncture needed? Plan on weekly treatments until you start to receive a benefit, then gradually lengthen the time until the next visit.
• What does it cost? Acupuncture treatments range from $70 to $125 per session. A private health fund may cover part of the cost if you have extra cover.

If you are suffering from chronic pain, give acupuncture a try. You may call us at (08) 8221 5880 or book online