According to recent estimates, around 15.5 million people in England (that’s 34 per cent of the population) suffer from chronic pain.
Pain in its various forms has become a silent epidemic, with millions of people struggling with this hidden disability.
At Acupuncture That Works, we have helped patients of all ages who have struggled to find sustainable pain relief. But can acupuncture help to relieve pain, and how does it work?
Here we will answer everything you need to know about acupuncture for pain relief.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific acupoints across the body.
TCM teaches that the body has a flow of life energy called Qi (chee), and by manipulating acupuncture points practitioners are able to release the flow of Qi. It is believed that when Qi becomes blocked, people develop illnesses and ailments, but by activating acupoints the flow can be restored along with overall health.
What types of pain can acupuncture help with?
There are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the body, and it is thought that targeting specific points may relieve pain by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer and stimulating parts of the brain that release serotonin.
As a result, acupuncture is thought to relieve pain and discomfort caused by a range of diseases, illnesses and ailments such as:
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Chemotherapy-related pain
- Dental pain
- Labour pains
- Menstrual pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Head pain (including migraines or headaches)
- Respiratory pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Tennis elbow
How many acupuncture sessions does it take to relieve pain?
The number of sessions required depends entirely on the patient and the severity of the pain. While some patients will experience immediate pain relief during their first session, others with chronic pain may require more sessions before noticing a change.
For acupuncture to be effective and have a long-lasting impact, we always recommend that patients remain consistent with their sessions to ensure continued pain relief.
What to expect from your pain relief acupuncture session?
During your first session, your practitioner will perform an initial assessment of your overall health and lifestyle, together with any concerns you may have and discuss the type of pain you are experiencing. They will then be able to devise an acupuncture regime that will target specific acupoints over a set period.
Each session can last anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour, during which hair-thin needles are gently inserted into acupoints across the body.
Once in place, you will be left to rest and relax while the needles work to restore the flow of Qi and release blockages.
After your session, you may experience some light bruising or bleeding from where the needle was inserted, but many patients report feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and often have a reduction in pain.
We recommend that after a session patients rehydrate themselves and take it easy for the remainder of the day to allow the healing benefits of their session to take effect.
Acupuncture for pain relief
If, like millions of other people across the UK, you are experiencing acute or chronic pain and would like to explore acupuncture as a means of pain relief, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
We are proud to have helped countless patients create a sustainable pain relief regimen and regain control of their lives.
To find out more about the acupuncture for pain relief we offer at Acupuncture That Works, feel free to visit our website or get in touch with us today on 0800 051 76 88.
