You may have read about the rising opioid crisis worldwide. Maybe you're currently be on prescribed medication for pain and are worried about its long term effects.
Patients prescribed pain relief can find themselves reliant on strong medications which may have implications for their future health and mental wellbeing. With the NHS struggling to meet patient demand for appointments and treatment, the British Acupuncture Council have been calling for GPs to refer patients for acupuncture in order to relieve pressure on the health service and to find a more sustainable treatment option for those suffering from a variety of chronic pain conditions- from migraines, to arthritis and back pain to name a few.
A 2019 report showed that, across Europe, 18% of the population are currently affected by moderate to severe chronic pain. Many of those people will struggle to find relief from medication alone and many will suffer from side effects of those medications. Could acupuncture really be a viable and effective alternative or accompaniment to prescribed medication?
In this article I aim to give you a few reasons why acupuncture might be worth exploring for your chronic pain issues.
Acupuncture is proven to be effective for pain relief
Studies involving acupuncture have increased in the past decade as its effectiveness for conditions such as chronic pain has become more widely known. Harvard University published articles on the effectiveness of acupuncture for pain management, concluding that it does provide effective relief from chronic pain, rivaling prescribed medication but without its adverse side effects.
Acupuncture effects do not decrease over time
Whereas it’s well documented that patients using opioids, for example, can build a tolerance for the medication, with the same dose becoming less effective over time, Studies have shown that the effects of acupuncture persist over time with only a small decrease in treatment effect at 1 year.
Acupuncture could provide relief from side effects
Patients can often find they experience unpleasant side effects from long term prescribed medication, acupuncture can mitigate some of the effects- acupuncture focuses on organ systems that are affected by long-term use of medications, specifically the liver, kidneys and digestive system. Common side effects of pain relief medication are digestive upsets, mood swings and drowsiness.
Acupuncture addresses underlying issues
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment practice, which means that it aims to help your whole body system find balance, rather than solely treating symptoms. For example, if you have pain in a specific area, perhaps chronic neck or jaw pain, acupuncture points will be used to not only relieve the pain in this area but also to address the underlying cause of the pain- perhaps chronic stress, tension or inflammation- which could help to alleviate the condition over time.
Acupuncture treatments offer more time with your practitioner
Busy GPs often do not have a lot of time to discuss your ongoing condition, this can feel frustrating when you’re suffering from chronic pain and need to find alternative ways of dealing with it if your current treatment plan is not working well for you. Acupuncturists are trained to focus on the individual needs of a patient to find the best course of treatment. Your acupuncturist is going to want to hear about your experience, how your condition affects your day-to-day life and your emotional wellbeing. I would say this is an invaluable part of the treatment process as being able to vocalise what is really going on for you can relieve some of the stress that often exacerbates a chronic condition.
I hope you’ve found this article helpful, if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please email fromelittleclinic@gmail.com
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