How Acupuncture relieves Pain in the Back, Neck, or Shoulders?
Acupuncture may relieve pain by releasing endorphins – the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ hormones – and by affecting serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) involved with mood.
Essentially, acupuncture works by activating the body’s own self-healing mechanisms, meaning that the positive effects of acupuncture treatment may last long after you walk out of the clinic.
In a 2012 study in the Journal of Pain, the authors noted that the positive effects of acupuncture appeared to continue for at least 12 months after receiving treatment and sometimes even longer depending on a few factors.
Recent research by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that acupuncture works especially well on chronic pain, including back pain, neck pain, knee pain/osteoarthritis, and headaches. Studies have shown it can reduce the incidence and severity of tension headaches and may prevent migraines from developing altogether. We have found this to be extremely true in our clinic where we specialize in pain management.
Avoid Painkillers for Pain! – opioid painkillers which come with a risk of addiction, and/or over-the-counter pain pills that can damage your liver with long-term use – acupuncture has no serious side effects, making it a great solution if you would like to treat your pain without drugs.
Unlike painkilling medications, acupuncture is extremely safe when performed correctly. At Balance Within located in Encino and Beverly Hills, our team of acupuncturists are all Board Certified and specialists of their craft. Furthermore, if you have health insurance, ie. Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna PPO you may have low or no-cost coverage on your acupuncture treatment.
Make sure your acupuncturist uses single-use, sealed needle packages to reduce the risk of contracting a blood-borne infection; if they don’t, ask how they sterilize their needles between clients.
If the thought of needles poking into your skin makes you uncomfortable, remember that the needles are extremely fine – many people do not feel anything at all when the needles are inserted. If you have a particular fear of needles or are especially sensitive to pain, make sure you let your acupuncturist know – they can take measures to ensure you remain comfortable and don’t feel any pain throughout your treatment.
Our acupuncturists practice a very unique style of acupuncture which is extremely gentle yet highly effective. It is a style that Dr. Alexander Ezzati DAOM has created after studying extensively in China.
Acupuncture for neck pain and osteoarthritis works extremely well. Generally when there is neck pain there is usually a compression of the disks in your neck or tight muscles. Acupuncture can help relieve this compression which also leads to bulging disk or slip disks in your neck.
Acupuncture also loosens the muscles in your neck allowing more blood flow into the area to help repair and rehab the injured or damaged area. Our acupuncturist at Balance Within will usually recommend a course of between 6 and 12 treatments spaced closely together (often twice per week) along with Chinese Herbal Teas if needed. Your acupuncturist will be able to tell you how many treatments you are likely to need to achieve maximum pain relief and to completely heal.
There is no need to continue to suffer from pain or specifically neck pain. Acupuncture may be the long-lasting, drug-free solution that allows you to live pain-free or at least with significantly reduced pain day-to-day. Encino and Beverly Hills doctor of acupuncture Dr. Alex Ezzati has extensive experience treating chronic pain conditions and sore backs, necks, knees, headaches and migraines. Call today to find out how acupuncture can help improve your quality of life!
