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At least one-third of the world’s population experiences chronic pain as a continuous health problem, that re-occurs or persist for more than 3 months.
Pain is endured by all. It can be physical or emotional, but fundamentally for each patient the level of pain suffered is a very unique and debilitating experience, having a profound effect on their mobility and health-related quality of life. The pain threshold of one person, can be a greater or weaker endurance than another and not all pain episodes sustained by one individual are of the same intensity.
What is the Root cause of Pain?
Acute or chronic pain is rooted in many causes where inflammation occurs such as; arthritis, long-term musculoskeletal problems due to accidental or recent injury, poor circulation, nerve damage, post-surgical recovery, chronic post-viral syndromes and acquired or hereditary disease.
Pain manifests when localised swelling and inflammation compresses sensory nerve endings. Sensory nerves carry information from the body to the spinal cord, originate in our organs, glands and muscles and are associated with the reflex regulation of involuntary action and visceral pain.
The inflammatory response is a physical reaction to tissue damage producing redness, heat, swelling and pain. Acute inflammation is typically of short duration (days or weeks) ranging from mild to very severe depending on the amount of tissue injury. The development of chronic inflammation (weeks or longer) is very similar to, and can be a complication of an acute inflammatory response, but because the process is of longer duration, considerably more tissue damage is likely. Therefore, acute pain can become chronic pain if a treatment strategy is unsuccessful or resolution incomplete.
What evidence is there to suggest Acupuncture helps?
The anti-inflammatory actions and anaesthetic qualities of acupuncture is now widely accepted by western medical professionals as having a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions, where inflammation is the primary factor.
There is a vast library of new, global and peer reviewed research to support acupuncture as a safe, effective treatment method to control and alleviate the inflammatory response and subsequent pain suffered by patients.
NHS consultants, along with many GP surgeries as well as Physiotherapists, recognise acupuncture as a safe and nourishing treatment option, offering pain clinic appointments to their patients.
The 2020 Guidelines published by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the use of Acupuncture as a medically viable and effective way of managing acute or chronic pain, finding evidence that acupuncture performs as well as, and potentially better than standardised medical care for pain management, while reducing the need for certain pain management medications.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has undertaken extensive research into the efficacy of acupuncture and found that evidence pooled together has shown:
Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect the areas of the brain that are known to reduce pain sensitivity and stress by promoting relaxation.
Stimulates nerves located in muscles and other tissues, leading to the release of endorphins which changes the processing of pain in the brain and spinal cord.
Reduces the inflammatory response by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors.
Stimulates the nervous system, causing the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.
May help relieve post-operative pain by altering the brain’s chemistry, increasing endorphins and neuropeptides while reducing serotonin levels.
If you are suffering with the symptoms of recurring and debilitating pain, ask your doctor or consultant if they are confident you would benefit from a course of acupuncture and request a referral.
If you are interested in understanding how acupuncture may help you with your pain, you are welcome to contact me for an informal chat, or send an email if you prefer.
Where can I get more unbiased information?
Visit the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) website for more information. The BAcC is the acupuncture practitioner’s regulator and governing body, with defining principles in the code of safe practice and hygienic standard for public protection.
Visit the BAcC website by following the link below to find more information in the evidence A-Z section; Chronic Pain and many other acute or chronic pain disorders. These fact sheets are produced to provide accurate evidence based and unbiased general information for a variety of conditions and how acupuncture may be beneficial for you.
You can also use the ‘Find an Acupuncturist’ section to locate the contact details of a qualified practitioner in your area by following the link below.
References:
Bai, H., Xu, S., Wu, Q., Xu, S., Sun, K., Wu, J., Xia, X. Liu, Y., Zhang, H. and Lu, S. (2020) Clinical events associated with acupuncture intervention for the treatment of chronic inflammation associated disorders. Mediators of inflammation.
Chen, Y.J., Bassi, G.S. and Yang, Y.Q. (2019) Classical chinese acupuncture versus different types of control groups for the treatment of chronic pain: Review of randomised control trials (2000-2018). Evidence Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.
Gadau, M., Yeung, W.F., Liu, H., Zaslaeski, C., Tan, Y.S., Wang, F.C., Bangrazi, S., Chung, K.F., Bian, Z.X. and Zhang, S.P. (2014) Acupuncture and moxibustion for lateral elbow pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Image: Man (Photosforyou, Pixabay)
Legge, D. (2010) Jing Jin: Acupuncture treatment of the muscular system using the meridian sinews. Sydney: College Press.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2020) Chronic pain: Assessment and management. The evidence review for acupuncture.
Shi, G.X., Liu, B.Z., Wang, J., Fu, Q.N., Sun, S.F., Liang, R.L., Li, J., Tu, J.F., Tan, C. and Liu, C.Z. (2018) Motion style acupuncture therapy for shoulder pain: A randomised control trial. Journal of Pain Research. Available online via PubMed:
Wei, T. H. and Hsieh, C. L. (2020) Effect of acupuncture on the p38 signalling pathway in several nervous system diseases: A systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Wilcox, L. (2009) Moxibustion: A modern clinical handbook. Colorado: Blue Poppy Press.
Zijlstra, J.F., van den Berg-de Lange, I., Huygen, F.J.P.M. and Klei, J. (2003) Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Taylor and Francis Health Sciences.