Is acupuncture right for me?
Living with pain is not necessary.
Living with pain is all too often accepted as being normal and the only effective way to alleviate this pain is with corticosteroids or drugs. Although these treatments can be very effective, a lot of people would prefer more conservative approaches to pain management.
One such conservative approach which has been found to minimize and, in some cases, eliminate pain is acupuncture.
here are some examples of what acupuncture can treat:
neck pain
low back pain
tennis elbow
headaches
carpal tunnel syndrome
arthritic pain
knee pain
shoulder pain
Do you identify with any of these diagnoses or sources of pain?
Acupuncture may very well be the alternative treatment that manages or cures your source of pain.
Once you have made the decision to try acupuncture, there are several factors to consider. When making an appointment, be sure to plan your time accordingly as each procedure can take up to 30 minutes. It’s also important to consider positioning, depending on which acupuncture or trigger points are being treated will determine whether the patient is sitting or lying down.
The needles are sterile and extremely tiny but if you have an aversion to needles let your practitioner know. The relief provided will be worth it if you are able to relax and allow the therapist to treat your pain.
Some patients may notice a difference in their pain after one acupuncture treatment but on average it could take up to six treatments to feel the benefits. If the patient does not respond positively, other treatments can be considered. However, if there is improvement, there is no limit to the amount of acupuncture treatments a client can receive.
Chronic pain may require ongoing treatment whereas acute pain may only need four to six treatments for the client to feel a permanent result. Every body is different, and every pain is different, acupuncture treatment is administered based on the individual needs and conditions of each client.
At your first appointment, you can expect to have an assessment done to help determine whether acupuncture would be beneficial in treating your source of pain. After the evaluation is completed the benefits of acupuncture are discussed and the client must consent to treatment. Prepping the client includes having them positioned in such a way as to expose the skin area where the needles will be inserted.
The therapist will determine how many sterile needles are necessary to achieve the desired effect. Your skin is prepped by cleaning the needle insertion point with a sterile cloth followed by a quick prick of the skin at the acupuncture or trigger point. Once the determined treatment time has elapsed, all the needles are removed, and the skin can be wiped clean again. A common side effect can be local soreness or redness once the needles are taken out, but this is temporary and will go away.
Finally, before booking your appointment, be aware that OHIP does not currently cover acupuncture but many extended health care plans do include coverage so it’s important to call your extended health provider and ask.
If you are looking for an alternative to corticosteroids or drugs for acute or chronic pain you will want to consider trying acupuncture. Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that has been found to reduce or eliminate pain and decrease long-term dependency on medications.