## The sooner pain is treated with acupuncture, the faster recovery will be.
Your acupuncturist will be able to help you determine how many treatments will be necessary and whether or not it will be necessary to undertake specific measures in conjunction with acupuncture sessions (exercises, complementary therapeutic interventions). Acupuncture, while being safer, is also more effective and faster-acting than intravenous morphine. (130422-3/abstract)) It has been suggested that acupuncture could even be a simple solution to the complex problem of the opioid crisis.
One of the most frequent reasons for consulting an acupuncturist: back pain. Often, a recent back pain can be completely resolved in just a few acupuncture sessions and can be greatly relieved during the first acupuncture session. Other cases require more treatments or require a combination of complementary approaches.
That said, acupuncture is an approach that has earned its credentials over millennia with regard to relieving back pain and treating the source of its manifestations. No one has to accept living with chronic pain daily. A healthy body and peace of mind is your birthright. Claim it today.
Back pain has become the leading cause of disability in the Quebec workplace.
"The Survey on Health in Canadian Communities, conducted in 2003, indicates that back pain is the most important health problem for 17% of Quebecers... nearly 80% of the population will suffer at some point from severe back pain that will disrupt their daily routine." (2)
In practice, it is important to differentiate between acute pain, which has appeared for the first time in the last 30 days, and chronic pain, which manifests daily for a longer period.
The American College of Physicians (3) presented, in early 2017, clinical guidelines regarding the treatment of acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain. An integrative, medication-free approach is recommended. Acupuncture is part of the recommendations for all types of low back pain, while laser is part of the recommendations for chronic low back pain.
The effects of acupuncture are lasting: 90% of the benefits of acupuncture treatments for chronic pain are retained 12 months after treatment. (4)
Differentiation of lower back pain according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:
QI AND BLOOD STAGNATION
Qi:
Stiffness, tension of the back and neck, frustration, resentment, suppressed anger, irritability, depression, may be worse in the morning, improved within 30 minutes of waking.
Blood:
Intense pain, stabbing in character, very localized, little improved by movement.
INVASION OF WIND-COLD-DAMPNESS-HEAT
WIND:
Sudden and changing character at the level of pain location and intensity. Aggravated by air currents indoors.
COLD:
Aggravated by cold and improved by application of heat.
DAMPNESS:
The pain takes on a heavy quality, possible presence of edema, swelling. Aggravated by humid weather.
HEAT:
Very sensitive to touch, redness, inflammation. The combination of Heat and Dampness causes back pain associated with urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Acute and chronic urinary tract infections respond well to acupuncture. Pyelonephritis should be addressed by a medical emergency protocol.
KIDNEY QI DEFICIENCY (Kidney Yang Deficiency)
Chronic pain, may be accompanied by weakness/pain in the knees/ankles, impotence/infertility, frequent and/or abundant urination.
Article written by Olivier Roy, Acupuncturist, Clinique Shanti Acupuncture Montreal
References
(130422-3/abstract)) Acupuncture vs intravenous morphine in the management of acute pain in the ED
(2) Métro, boulot et mal de dos, Le Devoir, Guillaume Bourgault-Côté, Saturday 02- Sunday 03 September 2006
(3) Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians, Annals of Internal Medicine, 14 February 2017
(4) The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain MacPherson, H. et al. Pain: May 2017 - Volume 158 - Issue 5 - p 784–793
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