What People Coping With Pain Ought To Know About Acupuncture…

There is a Natural, Safe, Effective and Drug Free Alternative.

Chronic pain, whether from a pinched nerve, sciatica, arthritis or other conditions can be very frustrating for the sufferer. It is often difficult to treat nerve pain with traditional medications as nerve pain does not respond well to prescription pain relievers, including narcotics.

If you suffer from chronic pain and you are unable to find relief, you may find help by using alternative medicine treatments.

Back Pain / Sciatica

Back pain, whether caused by chronic sciatica, a bulging disc, or arthritis is very painful and can be disabling. A person suffering from sciatica has an inflamed sciatic nerve. This nerve starts roughly at the base of the spine, travels down the back of the leg and then stops in your foot. Sciatic pain is difficult to treat because nerve pain does not respond well to painkillers. Sciatica can cause severe, stabbing pain and can make the patient cry out when sudden movements are made.

Acupuncture, a complementary therapy for the treatment of chronic pain, works by stimulating the nervous system and allowing for the body to regain balance.

In December 2007, the Center for Complementary Medicine Research out of Munchen, Germany filed a report on the efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic pain. Scientists discovered that acupuncture proved to be a treatment in high demand as an option for dealing with chronic pain conditions, and in fact they recommended that acupuncture be covered under traditional health insurance policies due to its effectiveness.

There are other ways to relieve back pain without medication. These include physical therapy, and a progressive exercise program that uses both stretching and balance techniques. Back pain may not be completely relieved by exercise or physical therapy alone and that is when alternative treatments become useful. Strengthening the stomach muscles through exercise is a specific way to increase back strength and improve the overall functioning of the low back.

Acupuncturists use thin, sterile, stainless steel needles that do not hurt when they are inserted. There are points in the body, that when stimulated, decrease pain and promote an overall sense of well being. Ballwin, MO acupuncturists are trained individuals who have completed extensive classroom and clinical hours in order to become certified to treat patients.

Shoulder pain is another difficult to treat illness because of the complexity of the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, attached together by ligaments and protected by cartilage.  If there is ligament damage or the cartilage has worn down, the joint will hurt when it is used. It is one of the body parts exposed to the most repetitive use, repeated traumas and degeneration, so athletes, laborers and aging adults are most susceptible to shoulder injuries of all kinds.

Arthritis

Arthritis pain can be felt anywhere in the body there is a joint, therefore, arthritis pain can be anywhere in the body. Arthritis can be widespread or it can be concentrated in a knee, low back, or shoulder. Arthritis is a very common health ailment for the general public and with early management, arthritis pain does not have to be disabling. You can live with arthritis for a long time without pain if you make changes in your lifestyle that include alternative therapies.

Those that suffer from arthritis will likely find relief from acupuncture treatments because acupuncture treats the whole body and promotes overall wellness. Arthritis sufferers likely have arthritis in more than one place and analgesics only help for so long.

Chronic, low grade pain can lead to a decrease in activity and a lack of enjoyment in activities because the pain is just too much to deal with. People that suffer from chronic pain are more prone to depression because they are no longer able to do things that they once enjoyed.  They may suffer loneliness and feel that they are suffering alone.

There is no need to be in chronic pain when acupuncture treatments are available.  You will not know how acupuncture can affect your chronic pain until you try it.  Although it may not work for everyone, acupuncture is free of side effects and certainly worth an attempt at dealing with your pain.

Acupuncture has become more widely accepted in the western world.  Americans are no longer accepting that prescription medications are the only treatment for conditions such as low back pain, knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, arm pain, neck pain, sciatica and arthritis.

As a society we want to know what our options are.  Physicians are becoming certified in acupuncture at increasing rates, proof that western and eastern medicine are joining forces in an effort to provide the most effective treatment possible for all patients.

If you have any questions, send me an e-mail or call us at (636) 893-5048. I’ll be happy to answer your questions and discuss your concerns.


Sincerely,

Laurie Mecham, Lic.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist in Ballwin, MO

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“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame and in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
— Thomas Edison.

“Acupuncture treatments are natural, safe, effective and drug-free. My goal is to activate the natural, self-healing abilities of your body to bring balance and prevent future illness and disease.”
— Laurie Mecham, Lic.Ac. – Ballwin, MO 63011