Acupuncture for Pain Management

Chronic pain is something that a large percentage of the population suffers from. Many people live through that pain or unable to find relief in any way. Acupuncture for pain relief may now offer some patients a way to find relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture for pain has now found acceptance in Europe as a legitimate way to treat pain and is even covered by health insurance in Germany.

It has not quite received the same level of acceptance everywhere else in the world. Many still regard it as an alternative medicine though there are new trials and studies that show promising results. This could be the answer for those who have not been able to live without pain for years.

Sham Treatments

Some people have taken sham acupuncture for pain treatment trials as proof that acupuncture does not really provide relief for chronic pain. In these trials needles were inserted but not at the depth required by proper acupuncture.

The needles were also not manipulated. Patients in these trials reported an improvement in the level of pain they experienced. Patients who received proper acupuncture for pain treatment experienced the same results. Some consider this evidence of a placebo effect that acupuncture has. Others believe that merely inserting needles may have a beneficial effect even when inserted shallowly.

No Side Effects

The plus side of acupuncture for pain treatments is that there are no side effects. When carries out by an experienced practitioner there are no negative side effects. The same cannot be said for traditional methods of pain relief. You can still safely take any medication you might be prescribed for back pain while undergoing acupuncture chronic pain treatments.

It may take some time to feel the effects of the therapy. Repeated sessions over a prolonged period are needed before you can evaluate whether the therapy is helping or not. Although it has been proven to help some patients, it does not help all patients suffering from chronic back pain.

If you have been suffering from years of chronic back pain then it may be time to look at this alternative therapy. Give it a fair chance by consistently going for treatments and following the advice of your practitioner who may advise you to integrate certain practices into your lifestyle and to curb certain habits. The therapy works best when you treat it as a holistic one. Changing certain things in your lifestyle may be necessary.