How Does Acupuncture Work for Pain?

Pain is one of the most common symptoms we see here at Seneca Falls Acupuncture. In fact, I treat a LOT of pain patients.

One of my specialties is pain management (the other is cosmetic acupuncture), so it’s something I’m pretty passionate about.

Why am I so passionate about acupuncture for pain management? Because it works.

A recent metanalysis (a large-scale research study) published in the Journal of Pain in May 2018 determined that “…acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain, with treatment effects persisting over time” [reference].

If you’re living in pain, there’s a really good chance acupuncture can help.

What kinds of pain can acupuncture help with?

• – Back pain
• – Stiff neck
• – Joint pain of any kind (particularly shoulder, knee, wrist, hip, ankle)
• – Sciatic pain
• – Headaches (tension, sinus, and migraines)
• – Fibromyalgia
• – Nerve pain (including neuropathy)
• – Chronic pain
• – Acute pain and swelling due to injury
• – Pain associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• – Toothache/jaw pain
• – Pain and cramping during menses
• – Post-surgical pain and swelling

As you can see, acupuncture addresses a wide range of pain symptoms. In a nutshell, if you’re experiencing pain of almost any kind, I recommend giving acupuncture a try.

How does acupuncture work to reduce such varied pain conditions?

Acupuncture:

• – Reduces inflammation
• – Increases naturally-produced painkillers such as opioids (for example, endorphins)
• – Reduces cortisol (the body’s “stress hormone”)
• – Regulates the autonomic nervous system to interfere with the way the brain processes pain.
• – Increases circulation (blood flow) to the muscles, connective tissue, and organs

Acupuncture reduces inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) [reference] and inflammation-generating cytokines [reference].

It increases naturally-occurring opioids in the body (such as endorphins, enkephalins, and dopamine) which reduce inflammation and mediate the pain response [reference 1, 2, 3].

Acupuncture regulates cortisol levels, which in turn lowers blood pressure, regulates metabolism, and reduces high blood sugar [reference].

Acupuncture regulates the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), which connects the brain stem to the rest of the body [reference]. The vagus nerve lets the brain know what’s happening in the rest of the body. Acupuncture interferes with the way the vagus nerve – and therefore the brain – perceives pain.

Acupuncture increases blood flow [reference], which stimulates healing, as blood carries oxygen and essential nutrients to the tissues.

This article from Bustle explains the many ways acupuncture impacts our brains and bodies: 

>> 7 Ways Acupuncture Changes Your Brain, According to Science

In fact, acupuncture is so helpful in the treatment of back pain that it is now recommended by the American College of Physicians.

In an article released in 2017, the American College of Physicians directed that doctors should prescribe conservative modalities (including acupuncture, chiropractic and massage) before prescribing medication [reference].

This recommendation is based on the research supporting acupuncture’s effectiveness at treating pain. The goal is that acupuncture will be utilized instead of prescription medications, to help reduce the opioid epidemic.

How many treatments will I need?

Many people feel improvement after their first treatment, but to make pain reduction long-lasting, multiple treatments are usually needed.

Acupuncture is cumulative, which means that the results of each treatment build on the ones before it. A typical course of treatment is one treatment a week for 6-8 weeks. After that, we try to start spacing treatments out, to see how long you can go between treatments while still feeling great.

And of course, it always depends on the individual. Pain that has been occurring for many years typically takes longer to improve than acute pain, for example. And certain types of chronic pain, like fibromyalgia or arthritis, might require maintenance treatments every 4-6 weeks.

You deserve to live pain free. Come visit us to see how acupuncture can help!

You can schedule online here, or feel free to call
(607) 216-8112 or email info@senecafallsacupuncture.com to discuss your particular condition.