Musculoskeletal conditions & chronic pain
‘Where There Is Pain, There Is No Free Flow & Where There Is Free Flow, There Is No Pain’There is a strong tradition in China of using acupuncture to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and it has been shown to be so effective that it is now used here in the West by many physiotherapists and chiropractors, as well as acupuncturists to successfully treat a range of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Various disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system usually result in inflammation and pain. The cause of pain in traditional Chinese medicine is stagnation or blockage in the circulation of energy (Qi ) and blood. Acupuncture is able to release these blockages so Qi and blood can flow smoothly so relieving symptoms.
Musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain
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Often the main Western medicine approach is to prescribe strong analgesic / and anti-inflammatory medications which can over time not be as effective and have potent side effects.
Acupuncture can be used as an alternative standalone approach or can work alongside Western medicine safely and effectively managing many muscle, joint, neurological and pain disorders.
Some of the conditions that can be helped include:
Some of the conditions that can be helped include:
- Acute & Chronic Back PainSciatica
- Neck Stiffness and Pain
- Frozen shoulder>
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Hip Pain
- Whiplash
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorders).
- Knee pain
- Strains & Sprains
- Osteoarthritis
- Postoperative Pain & Scarring
- RSI ( Repetitive Strain Injury) and tendonitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Soft tissue trauma recovery
- Shingles
- TGN (trigeminal neuralgia)
During a treatment fine needles are inserted into points along a network of energy meridians which are the main channels of communication and energy distribution in the body; they link the interior organs with all the various tissues of the superficial areas of the body. This meridian system allows an acupuncturist to influence the function of a particular area by the selection of points both local and distant from it, thus improving Qi and blood flow so symptoms such as pain, stiffness, numbness and tingling can be alleviated.
Other techniques that can be used as well as acupuncture include massage, cupping, moxibustion and gua sha and Fiona uses these a lot in clinic with patients. Cupping is the application of suction cups to areas of tension to remove obstruction and alleviate inflammation. Moxibustion is a technique of warming the needles or the affected area directly. Gua Sha is an ancient technique of gently putting pressure with a tool across the skin using oil which encourages the flow of blood to that area.
Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Conditions
Traditional Chinese medicine – which embraces acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary and lifestyle advice, has over centuries been a therapeutic and effective tool to help with the signs and symptoms of chronic conditions. Nowadays it is integrated within many Western medicine hospitals in China – with dedicated acupuncture wards for stroke rehabilitation, pain management and other specialities as well as large herbal dispensaries next to Western pharmacy dispensaries within most hospitals.
Many people use traditional Chinese medicine as it can provide symptomatic relief from their particular condition. It can also be the case that there may be limited medical options or these options haven’t helped enough or may have have had unwanted side effects.
One of the strengths of traditional Chinese medicine is that it is concerned with why someone has the symptoms they have and the factors in their life that may have contributed to their condition. It many respects it is the original lifestyle medicine.
I have seen doctors and taken many medications with no real effect and have had people doubt my symptoms . This has added to the high levels of stress I already have due to these symptoms disrupting my life ..Having a course of acupuncture and herbal medicine and changing some aspects of my diet has so improved my symptoms of chronic fatigue that my day to day life is so much better.
There are a multitude of chronic conditions that can significantly impact your quality of life. Whether the condition is physical, emotional or mental you may experience a wide range of symptoms such as pain, low energy, disturbed sleep, cognitive difficulties, low mood or just generally feeling unwell.
Over the years Fiona has seen patients with a variety of chronic conditions including:
- Chronic fatigue / post viral syndrome / ME /Lyme disease
- Chronic pain
- MS
- Chronic digestive problems / leaky gut issues
- Cancer care – helping with the side effects of chemotherapy and the fatigue from treatments
Evidence Based Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be very effective at treating pain and headaches. It has also been shown to help to reduce stress, balance hormones and mood as well as improve sleep and energy. The research base into acupuncture is growing all the time. In 2017, researchers John McDonald PhD, MSc, FAACMA and Stephen Janz RN, BN, BAc, GCCHM, MPH, MAACMA reviewed all the evidence to date. In their summary, they said:
Our study found evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for 117 conditions, with stronger evidence for acupuncture’s effectiveness for some conditions than others. Acupuncture is considered safe in the hands of a well-trained practitioner and has been found to be cost-effective for some conditions. The quality and quantity of research into acupuncture’s effectiveness is increasing.