Arthritis – 3 Ways Acupuncture Treat It

Your hips are stiff and painful, or your knees hurt to the point that you have trouble climbing the stairs. Or your elbow hurts and you might have to give up golf or tennis. Indeed, arthritis can affect almost any joint.  Acupuncture is a very effective form of pain control in that it can relieve pain in three ways.

• Acupuncture increases the production of endorphins and enkephalins, which inhibit the perception of pain. Since these hormones are produced by the body itself, there are no side effects.
• Acupuncture works through the nervous system by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Studies using MRIs have also shown an increase in the activity of pain-killing receptors in the brain.
• Acupuncture deactivates trigger points. Trigger points are tender and extremely reactive areas that develop in the muscles and fascial sheaths of the body. They are often responsible for chronic pain and are frequently found around arthritic joints.

Acupuncture will not only control the pain, but also have a positive effect on joint deterioration that appear in the three primary forms of arthritis

The first form, rheumatoid arthritis, is characterized by inflammation (swelling, heat, redness and pain) in and around joints

The second and most common form is osteoarthritis. It involves the gradual wearing of cartilage in joints along with the deposition of calcium, which limits mobility of the joint.

The third form is gouty arthritis, which is characterized by deposits of oxalic acid that make movement of the joint extremely painful.

How Many Treatments Are Necessary for Arthritis?

Each person is unique. Some people will respond to acupuncture more quickly than others. Most patients should experience some symptomatic relief after couple of treatments. Weekly treatment for a couple of months can bring long-term benefit, often for several months, as I have observed with my patients. I have also observed that when the pain cycle is broken, some patients have had what appears to be a permanent reduction in pain.