Effectiveness Of Acupuncture On Patients With Chronic Pain Essay

Clinical Topics: ACOEM Pain, Suffering, and the Restoration of Function Chapter guidelines stress the importance of a time-limited treatment plan with clearly defined functional goals, with frequent assessment and modification of the treatment plan based upon the patient’s progress in meeting those goals, and monitoring from the treating physician is paramount. In addition, CA MTUS Acupuncture Medical Treatment Guidelines state that acupuncture can be used to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, increase range of motion, decrease the side effect of medication-induced nausea, promote relaxation in an anxious patient, and reduce muscle spasm. Furthermore, guidelines state that time to produce functional improvement of 3 – 6 treatments. The patient has chronic neck pain. The latest progress report indicated that the pain is rated 9/10-scale level. Medications and PT have been tried and provided minimal improvement is her pain. The guidelines support 3 to 6 treatments of acupuncture to produce functional improvement. In addition, the latest progress report discussed about continued acupuncture 2X4. It is unclear if the patient has received acupuncture treatment for the cervical spine before. If yes; number of sessions completed to date, functional improvement and pain relief from the prior treatment should be documented. Additional information is required to certify the request. Recommend

The traditional Chinese treatment of acupuncture is an affective alternative medicine that has been around for thousands of years. Acupuncture is one of the most researched and documented alternative medicines around (Acupuncture). Although a vast majority of people believe Western medicine is the only cure to sickness, many people benefit from acupuncture everyday. Most people disregard the ancient art all together without giving it a chance because are scared of the needles it involves. Also, since no accurate scientific explanation of how and why it works has been found, people shy away from it. The healing powers of the body are taken to a whole different level with this alternative medicine.

* Acupuncture is said to help relieve pain by either diverting or changing the painful sensations that are sent to the brain to then alert you to the pain within the body. (Arthritis Research UK)

Many people will experience many physical factors such as pain and mobility problems, some individuals may feel that it’s best to take orthodox medicines which are the best pain relief or option for them, this includes treatments such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. However, some people might have side effects from medicines, therefore they choose to have alternatives, such as, massage and acupuncture. This means that pain can be taken away without any side

The relationship discovered in the articles written by Denneson, et., al (2011) and Fletcher, et., al (2016) discuss how the Department of Veterans Affair is studying the significance of using complementary alternative medicine to effectively control chronic noncancerous pain versus the continuous use of opioids. Massage therapy was the most preferred and effective method for management of pain. In the article written by Fletcher, et., al (2016), about 60 percent of the outpatient was taking opioids for management of chronic pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is an issue that affects patients, healthcare professionals, and society on a global scale. With advancements in allopathic medicine, LBP is better managed than ever before—however, its methodologies in diagnosing and treating LBP—and its results—are inconsistent. For this reason, many patients and healthcare professionals are turning to alternative treatments such as traditional Chinese medicine, which is now considered one of the leading treatments of LBP.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment for multiple issues, and is characterized by needles being strategically inserted into pressure points on the body to relieve symptoms. This is believed to reset you qi or life force within your body. This practice is carried out by acupuncturists all over the world. In western medicine, while we don’t know the exact mechanism of action, it is thought to increase blood flow and raise natural painkiller levels in the body. This rise in natural painkillers and increased blood flow are the major benefits of acupuncture. The risks are very few, there is a very limited chance of organ damage, infection, or soreness after a treatment (Mayo Clinic 2012).

Acupuncture has been identified as a “method of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease by inserting metal needles into the body at designated locations¬—acupuncture points— at various depths and angles” (Armstrong, 1972). This specific type of medical treatment was officially introduced to the United States in the 1800’s by Chinese immigrants, but was not properly recognized as a healing method until 1972. During that year President Nixon had traveled to China, where a local New York Times journalist had been treated with acupuncture to help him cope with the pain he had, after experiencing an emergency appendectomy (Updated Acupuncture Lecture, Slide 7). Even though it took years for acupuncture to become acknowledged in the Unites States,

Sham-acupuncture has shown that the results for it and acupuncture are fairly similar. It is possible that the percentages of acupuncture and sham-acupuncture are similar because they were both the result of a placebo effect. The percentage for both acupuncture and sham-acupuncture were only 50% or less, showing that there is not a large majority of success in the reduction of pain. Since both acupuncture and sham-acupuncture were not effective on a larger scale, it gives more evidence to the possibility of the results being a placebo effect.

(2006) was conducted to observe patients with knee osteoarthristis and the safety and effectiveness between traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA), sham acupuncture, and conservative therapy. Sham acupuncture is needles being inserted at non acupuncture sites to make the patient think they are getting true acupuncture (Scharf et al., 2006). The study included 1007 participants who were at least 40 years old, had symptoms for the past 6 months of chronic knee pain, and given confirmation of osteoarthritis of the knee. The participants were randomly selected to one of the three groups: conservative therapy, traditional Chinese acupuncture, or sham acupuncture. Each group received six physiotherapy visits as well as their specific interventioin treatment (Scharf et al., 2006). The conservative treatment group contained 316 participants who received ten consultation visits to the practioners and given diclofenac or rofecoxibe as needed (Scharf et al., 2006). Throughout six weeks the TCA and sham acupuncture group received ten acupunture treatments both using the identical type of acupuncture needles. Diclofenac was also given to the particpants of the TCA and sham acupuncture group if their pain was not at a level of comfort. There were 326 particpants in the TCA group and 365 in the sham acupuncture group (Scharf et al., 2006). At the 13th and 26th week the Western Ontario and McMaster University Ostoarthririts Index (WOMAC) assessed pain and function. According to the WOMAC results, pain and function in the TCA and sham acupuncture group were more effective than conservative treatment (Scharf et al., 2006). The TCA and sham acupuncture group exhibited similar findings with no major differences (Scharf et al.,

Acupuncture is gaining popularity as numerous claims are being made to its validity and effectiveness. Although many studies and experiments regarding acupuncture have been done, the scientific basis of the principles of this alternative approach still remains unclear (http://www.health.org/pubs/acu-nih.htm).

The first thing many acupuncture patients want to know is how often they need to receive treatment. Because the answer depends on each individual, South Reno Acupuncture in Reno, NV is offering in-depth advice regarding this issue so you know what to expect when seeking acupuncture pain relief.

2. A theory based on several studies suggests that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce natural pain-killing substances.

The researchers Running and Turnbeaugh (2011), appraised arrays of research articles that utilized therapeutic touch, massage therapy, and acupuncture to alleviate bone pain, visceral pain, and neuropathic pain in cancer patients. The researcher’s inclusive inference of the literature appraisal championed the utilization of complementary remedies in bestowing symptom aid and lessening pain in cancer patients (Running & Turnbeaugh, 2011). According to Running and Turnbeaugh (2011), these therapies needs to be used as appendage therapies and must not substitute pharmacological

Acupuncture is the science of healing with needles through energy channels; it has a rich history and is now used around the world. The real question is, is acupuncture effective? How can we simply prove that sticking needles into a person’s body is actually taking away their pain or disease? How do we go from believing completely in Western Medicine to believing in Eastern Medicine? Although acupuncture is an Eastern form of healing, it has gained much credibility and respect in the West.