Treating Hip Pain With Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used to treat everything from stress to nausea, and also joint pain. But can it really help tough-to-treat hip pain?
If nothing you’ve tried to relieve hip pain has worked, and you’re not ready to undergo hip surgery, there might be one more treatment option for you to investigate: acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that has been successful in treating chronic pain, including joint pain.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that has been used to cure ailments and illnesses for thousands of years. Thin, tiny needles are placed into particular points in the skin, then can be adjusted with the hands or stimulated with gentle electrical currents.
Acupuncture has been used to treat:
- Chronic pain
- Stress
- Pregnancy pain
A series of acupuncture visits is usually needed to receive real relief. Sometimes, insurance companies may cover the cost of acupuncture therapy, but every plan is different, so it’s important to check before making an appointment.
As with any treatment, acupuncture has its benefits and drawbacks.
Acupuncture Pros
- Many people with pain find relief from acupuncture when they couldn’t find relief from other sources.
- When a qualified practitioner is performing acupuncture with sterile, nontoxic needles, the risks are very rare.
- The effects of treatment is limited .
Acupuncture Cons
Acupuncture: Does It Work for Hip Pain?
The Role Of Acupuncture In Treating Chronic Pain
Acupuncture may sound like an exoticmaybe even improbabletreatment for chronic pain. But this age-old practice is now viewed as an acceptable supplementary treatment for certain low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis conditions.
Although acupuncture, a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine , is one of the oldest healing arts in the world, it was not recognized by the English-speaking world, nor was it regulated in the US, until journalist James Reston returned from China and wrote about his experience in a New York Times article, Now, About My Operation in Peking back in 1971.
Since that time, more and more Americansand their physicianshave been finding acupuncture a useful tool, especially for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and headaches, including migraines. Acupuncture also shows promise as a complementary therapy to control symptoms in the treatment of cancer. In fact, Western doctors have used acupuncture to treat the pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Can Acupuncture Help In Arthritis
Arthritis is a pervasive disease condition characterized by pain and inflammation in the joints.
The two main kinds of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In certain cases, age and physical activity act as a trigger for the disease while in some other it arises as an auto-immune disorder.
A wide range of treatment options are available but all have certain ill-effects on prolonged exposure.
Thus patients of arthritis usually seek alternative therapies to cure their disease symptoms.
One such therapy finds its roots in China and the Far East and is commonly known as Acupuncture.
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How To Use Acupuncture For Arthritis In The Hands
Hands are another body part which is very prone to OA. The fingers of such people become thick near the joints of the fingers, and the thumb joints become almost immovable. If people try to move their fingers forcefully in such a condition, they can experience a sensation of immense pain. OA in the hands can also cause permanent distortion of the shape of fingers and hence alter the shape of the hand.
Deformation of the shape of fingers also hampers the ability of a person to work efficiently. While there are a lot of medications available in mainstream medicine for such a condition, but all of them come with a lot of side effects.
Hands-on treatments like massage and chiropractic are a few alternatives for the people who suffer from OA in the hands. However, acupuncture for arthritis is the best option among all. It doesnt require a lot of effort, and it is easy. There are no side effects of acupuncture.
The needles are easily placed anywhere on the arm by the acupuncturist. This causes a chain of impulses in the body which are carried by the receptors to the spinal cord, and hence to the brain, which in turn causes the release of hormones. This release of hormones provides relief to the body.
Suffering Arthritis Pain In Your Knee Acupuncture Can Deliver Relief
Heres a sobering statistic: Chronic knee pain affects nearly 50 percent of older American adults, and knee pain is the most commonly reported pain among adults ages 50 to 69. Much of that knee pain is attributed to arthritis.
A bit about arthritic knee pain: Traditional therapies for arthritis, such as medication and surgery, have many limitations. Medications may offer temporary relief but can come with side effects. Surgery is quite painful and expensive, and can also lead to side effects not to mention the recovery period where your functionality may be severely limited. After surgery, you may need to endure additional treatment in the form of physical therapy.
So whats a person to do when medications dont work and surgery isnt on the table as an option ? You may need to turn to alternative, integrative therapies. One such option is acupuncture in this article, learn how the professionals at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness treat arthritis pain with acupuncture.
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What Happens When You Have Acupuncture
Youâll have a first appointment to go over your condition. The acupuncturist should tell you how many treatments youâll need. Six to eight sessions is typical.
At each session, the acupuncturist will put very thin needles into various places in your skin. Most people say they feel little pain, though itâs common to feel pressure or a slight ache once the needles are in. The acupuncturist might apply heat or electrical current to the needles, or gently move them.
The needles stay in for 10 to 20 minutes. During that time, you lie still. Then the acupuncturist takes them out. Removal doesnât hurt.
How Does It Work
Acupuncture helps to stimulate the bodys own healing mechanisms. Repeated treatments are known to have a cumulative effect on chronic pain management. This is because of acupunctures effect on the central nervous system, leading to the release of enkephalins and endorphins, the bodys natural pain killers.
Acupuncture also has modulating effects on certain areas of the brain that help to change pain perception and transmission .
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Approach To Literature Search
A MEDLINE search was conducted as follows: explode âacupunctureâ or explode âacupuncture analgesiaâ or explode âacupuncture therapyâ or explode âacupuncture pointsâ or âacupuncture.mpâ explode âosteoarthritisâor explode âosteoarthritis, kneeâ or âosteoarthritis.mpâ explode âKneeâ or explode âknee jointâ or âknee.mpâ . Combining these 3 searches together yielded 68 citations.
CINAHL was also searched as follows: explode âacupunctureâ or explode âacupuncture analgesiaâor explode âacupuncture anesthesiaâ or explode âacupuncture pointsâ or âacupuncture.mpâ explode âosteoarthritisâ or âosteoarthritis.mpâ explode âKneeâ or explode âknee jointâ or âknee.mpâ . Combining these 3 searches together resulted in 47 citations.
Titles, abstracts, and publication types of the 115 citations were scanned to determine which of these articles were applicable for this review. Bibliographies from retrieved articles were searched for relevant studies that might have been missed by the database searches.
How Does Acupuncture For Rheumatoid Arthritis Work
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility. It targets a persons fingers, feet, ankles, and even the wrists. As described earlier, arthritis is very good in reducing inflammation as it relaxes the body by increasing blood flow in it. Using acupuncture for arthritis can also be very beneficial as it also promotes the release of endorphins in the body.
In a study conducted at the University of Ottawa, participants with knee pain due to rheumatoid arthritis were observed to feel some relief due to electroacupuncture which uses electric current for pulsating through the needles.
The participants of the study noticed a reduction in pain after 24 hours of the treatment and four months later too. Another advantage that acupuncture treatment has over others is that the needles can be placed all over the body.
Acupuncture points are not necessarily located on the area where the pain is experienced it can be elsewhere too. It reduces inflammation, increases endorphins, and hence helps cure rheumatoid arthritis.
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What To Expect At An Acupuncture Appointment
Whether the practitioner is a medical doctor with acupuncture certification, or a licensed nonphysician acupuncturist, his or her credentials should be displayed in the office.
The patient should expect:
- T be positioned comfortably during treatment.
- To have the skin cleansed with alcohol prior to the placement of needles.
- To have the needles placed 1-2 centimeters deep.
- For the needles to be single-use, sterilized and disposed of after use.
After the needles have been placed by the practitioner, they may be stimulated manually or electrically, and a warming lamp may be used. Acupuncture needles are thinner than injection hypodermic needles, so the insertion should feel akin to a mosquito bite. The patient may experience tingling, soreness, or an electrical sensation as the needles are being manipulated.
Everyones response is unique, but the patient is likely to feel a sense of relaxation and well-being during treatment.
It is important for a patient to communicate any concerns they may have prior to undergoing treatment and make note of any easily accessible ways to contact the practitioner should a need for assistance arise. In some instances, the practitioner may leave the room once the needles have been placed to give the patient time to relax.
Acupunture And Electroacupuncture For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Does acupuncture work for treating rheumatoid arthritis?
Two studies of low to medium quality were reviewed and provide the best evidence we have today. The studies tested 84 people who had rheumatoid arthritis. The studies compared acupuncture to a placebo or a steroid injection. Improvement was measured after one treatment or after five treatments given once per week.
What causes shoulder pain and how can acupuncture help?Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues. The attack happens mostly in the joints of the hands and feet and causes redness, pain, swelling and heat around the joints. Drug and non-drug treatments are used to relieve pain and/or swelling.
Acupuncture is a non-drug therapy being in which thin needles are inserted into the body at specific spots. It is thought that acupuncture works either by releasing chemical compounds in the body that relieve pain, by overriding pain signals in the nerves or by allowing energy or blood to flow freely through the body. It is not known whether acupuncture works or is safe.
What do the studies show?In one study, people had acupuncture or fake therapy for five weeks, once per week. Pain, number of swollen and tender joints, disease activity, overall well-being, lab results, or amount of pain medication needed was about the same whether they had acupuncture or fake therapy.
How safe is it?Side effects were not measured in the studies.
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What Are Some Natural And Safe Treatment Options For People With Ra
There are so many natural things you can do to effectively control inflammation: Diet, staying active, controlling stress, and acupuncture.
The first being diet. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can dramatically cut inflammation and lead to less joint inflammation, improved brain and cardiovascular health, and just overall wellness! The anti-inflammatory diet eliminates sugar, processed foods, sodas, and fried fatty foods and centers on a whole foods based diet. High quality proteins, veggies, low glycemic fruits, adequate water, and good fats.
Staying active is also beneficial at helping to promote healing and reducing RA symptoms. In fact, pain associated with RA often is worse after periods of inactivity. Exercise can also help to control stress. As we know now, stress is often the initial spark that fuels the inflammation. Therefore making daily mindset and stress reducing practices an integral part of your routine can help to keep stress and inflammation at bay. Consider activities such as yoga, mindfulness practices like meditation, and participating in group exercise activities.
Can Acupuncture Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
It cant change the course of the disease, but some research suggests acupuncture, as a complement to medication, may benefit some people living with RA.
Alamy
Acupuncture will not stop the progression of rheumatoid arthritis or prevent joint damage, so it shouldnt be considered an alternative to medication. But that doesnt mean it’s useless to people living with RA. In fact, acupuncture may be a reasonable complement or addition to traditional treatment.
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Keep These Risk Factors In Mind
Although most of the effects of arthritis are completely positive and effective, there are very few risks involved with acupuncture. The potential benefits of acupuncture outweigh the risks. The risks associated with acupuncture are by far, less harmful than the ones related to mainstream medicines. If the treatment does not suit a person, he can experience the following:
- Slight soreness where the needles were placed
- Stomach upset
- Muscle twitching
- Heightened emotions
Moreover, it is not necessary that the acupuncture works for all. There are some cases in which acupuncture doesnt work for people, but such cases are rare. Moreover, people who are suffering from bleeding disorders may have problems as the needles may cause further infection. Some acupuncture treatments conducted on pregnant females resulted in early labor.
People with heart issues, and who have a pacemaker should be extremely cautious while using acupuncture as heat or electrical impulses can cause a problem with the pacemaker, and hence disturb the heart functioning.
Make sure that the acupuncturist uses only sterile needles. The needles which are not sterile can cause infection, since bacteria and viruses, and other microbes can get into a persons bloodstream. The needles should come prepackaged.
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So What Is Acupuncture
You just let someone stick pins in to you dont you?
Pretty much but for the sake of making this post longer, lets look deeper.
It isnt just a case of using your body as a human dart board though.
Acupuncture is considered a traditional Chinese medicine, which involves penetrating the skin with very fine needles at certain points on your body, to help relieve pain and promote feelings of wellness.
It is said that there are over 300 points in the body that needles can be inserted and the different points are used to relieve pain in various areas.
There is no real scientific proof or explanation of how this technique can help to relieve pains such as headaches, migraines, joint pain, but people have found great relief from it.
It is thought that the pain relief comes from the brain, that the acupuncture points that are used are points where nerves, tissue and muscle connect. By inserting the needle there, it can send signals to the brain that the pain is lessened or gone.
Most experts believe that it is this neurological effect that gives acupuncture the benefits it has, though other experts believe it is no more effective than a placebo.
A placebo is used in scientific studies, for instance in most studies there will be a group that receives a medication, for example an anti-inflammatory pill.
There will be a group that are told they are receiving this medication but in actual fact they will only be receiving sugar pills, in most cases.
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Can Acupuncture Help With My Arthritis Pain
If you have arthritis, you are probably very aware of the pain and inflammation in your joints and body that is caused by this chronic condition. It may increase during a flare and then subside at other times, but for most people with this chronic pain, it never entirely disappears. Medications, rest, exercise may all be part of your arsenal to help treat your pain. One option that you may not have considered yet is acupuncture. It has taken some time, but acupuncture is slowly becoming mainstream in the treatment of arthritis and providing one more option to help with the pain. The research results are coming in and helping to answer the question can acupuncture help with my arthritis pain?
In existence over 2000 years, acupuncture addresses the blocks that occur in the flow of energy throughout the body. Energy flows through 20 pathways, called meridians. When blockages occur in the meridians, illness and pain can result. Acupuncture involves the placement of tiny needles at precise points in the body near nerves where the blockages occur. The insertion of needles causes a release of chemicals called endorphins that block the pain message from being delivered to the brain. Acupuncture is known for restoring the balance in the flow of energy or life force, called Qi .
Can Massage Therapy And Acupuncture Be Combined To Treat Arthritis
Both massage therapy and acupuncture are powerful stand-alone techniques. When performed by a licensed and experienced therapist, they can both play an important role in managing the symptoms of arthritis.
When combined into a single treatment, they actually augment the anti-inflammatory and pain reducing impact of each. They also have been shown to have a cumulative impact in other words, they work better when performed regularly, as part of a holistic and comprehensive treatment plan.
If you are suffering from the symptoms of arthritis, acupuncture and massage therapy may be able to help provide relief. Be sure to your primary care physician and other medical specialists about whether acupuncture and massage might play a role in your arthritis treatment.
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Are There Any Restrictions On What I Can Do After A Treatment
Youâll probably feel really relaxed, because acupuncture can be very calming. So you might want to have someone who can take you home. If you feel great after your session, you still need to pace yourself so you donât try to do too much, too soon. You should keep taking any medicines your doctor prescribed, too.