Pain and Acupuncture

Pain is a problem affecting 4 out of 5 Americans; who have reported having at least one episode of pain, usually lower back pain. The parameters for classifying back pain are the following: Primary: is from an unknown etiology and it is self limiting, meaning it solves within a month. For this cases the new parameters state there is no need for X-rays, MRI or CTS. there are Orthopedic Tests that can rule out any doubt. A well Health History intake is very important and SOAP notes Secondary: back pain due to a trauma falls in this category and requires X-Ray, MRI or CTS to see if there is ligaments, tendon, neuro-muscular,disc herniation or bone fracture involvement. Tertiary: the etiology under this category is related with a disease like cancer or any other ailment that someway or somehow has reached the back like PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). In this category MRI, X-Ray, CTS are recommended. Indistinctly of the classification the pain is something real for the patient and that is why the seek for help. One way they seek for help is by using aspirin or any other NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs like Ibuprofen) or Paracetamol (acetaminophen). NSAIDs work with COX1 and COX2 while Acetaminophen with COX3. The difference is that NSAIDs are good to inhibit inflammation by reducing or blocking the production of prostaglandins while acetaminophen works with COX3 which inhibits pain right on the central nervous systems. The problem of both NSAID and Acetaminophen is that the former causes blood pressure issues, gastric problems and many other ailments related with smooth muscles (the heart, the uterus are example of smooth muscles) while the latter damages the liver. The doctor could prescribe the patient anti-depressants, or opiods as pain management tool; the drawback is: addiction. Invasive techniques might have they risk which patients should consider. Acupuncture offers a non-invasive solution where pain can be reduced significantly. 10 to 16 treatments are needed in order to resolve the pain; once solved the relapse is less... for this i have to mention 2 patients: the first was treated for a pinched nerve on the lumbar area which have her prone in bed, it took only 2 acupuncture treatments and the pain has not showed up in one year. The second patient had neck and headaches so severe that medications did not work for her; 11 treatments were enough to reduce the pain to 95%. The patient feels so great that she is not using medications for the headaches or neck pain. There are several great techniques in acupuncture that deliver great results. These are Balancing Method (my favorite), Trigger Point Technique and NeuroMuscular (Medical Acupuncture)....all of them are good but the first brings results the same day and last longer...acupuncture in order to exert great results is recommended ASAP while the problem (pain) is in its acute stage... the more time you let it pass the more treatments or more difficult to treat is. For more information you can contact me at www.omic-ny.net