What Is Arthritis And Its Symptoms?

Arthritis is a disorder that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and inflammation in the joints. A joint is part of our body where two or more bones meet to facilitate body movement.

Arthritis can affect any joint in your body, but the most common areas of the body whose joints can be affected include the knees, feet, hands, lower back, and hips.

Common symptoms of arthritis include:

• Pain
• Swelling and tenderness
• Tingling and sensations at the injection site.
• Joint stiffness or difficulty in moving joints.

Acupuncture can help treat various types of arthritis and ease its symptoms, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks the joint, leading to inflammation and pain. In osteoarthritis, there is a breakdown of cartilage (connective tissue that protects joints) which causes inflammation.

What Is Acupuncture And How Does It Work For Arthritis?

Acupuncture is a traditional therapy that involves the insertion of very thin needles into the skin on specific body parts. The points where needles are inserted are known as acupuncture points. Acupuncture works to relieve the symptoms of arthritis by several mechanisms.

The theory behind acupuncture therapy is “qi”, known as essential life energy, flows through channels called meridians around our body, and blockage in the flow of chi, (pronounced as “chee”), causes any disease or pain.

Acupuncture therapy is aimed at restoring the flow of chi to relieve symptoms by stimulating acupuncture points.

Another mechanism by which acupuncture relieves arthritis-related inflammation is when you insert the needle into acupuncture points, it stimulates the production of cortisol, a natural body hormone involved in controlling inflammation.

Acupuncture helps to soothe arthritis pain by releasing neurotransmitters involved in relieving pain, like endorphins and enkephalins.

Acupuncture Techniques

The procedure of acupuncture can involve one of the following techniques:

1) Electro-Acupuncture

In this procedure, the acupuncture needles are stimulated with an electric current to give slight vibration at the acupuncture sites during the procedure. This results in enhanced effects of the acupuncture procedure.

2) Traditional Acupuncture

As the name indicates, traditional acupuncture involves simple acupuncture procedures. In this technique, simply thin needles are inserted on specific acupuncture sites without involving any other materials.

3) Moxibustion

Moxibustion involves burning mugwort leaves near acupuncture points, and close to the skin’s surface.

How Long Does It Take For Acupuncture To Relieve Arthritis?

You may require a few sessions of at least 20 minutes of acupuncture therapy to experience symptom relief. For most people, it takes around 2-3 sessions to show effect, while some may require ongoing sessions up to a few months to show the desired response.

The number and frequency of acupuncture treatments will depend on the stage and intensity of your arthritis and health condition.

If your arthritis is mild to moderate, a limited number of sessions may be enough to relieve pain and produce outcomes. However, if the arthritis is more advanced and causes chronic pain, you may need ongoing acupuncture sessions.

Benefits of Acupuncture In Arthritis

The major benefits of acupuncture in alleviating arthritis is that it relieves pain and inflammation.

• Acupuncture helps to relieve chronic pain in arthritis by stimulating the release of pain-relieving hormones.
• Acupuncture alleviates oxidative stress, reducing inflammation in arthritis.
• Acupuncture exerts anti-inflammatory effects by improving blood flow.
• Acupuncture eases joint stiffness and improves mobility and physical functioning.
• Acupuncture increases hand and arm strength.
• Other benefits of acupuncture include better overall health and improved quality of life.
• Acupuncture also boosts the immune system.

Side Effects Of Acupuncture

It is crucial to note that acupuncture should be performed by a certified and experienced healthcare professional to minimize the risks of side effects. Commonly, the side effects of acupuncture are mild. It may include:

• Pain, mild bleeding, or swelling at the site of needle insertion.
• Nausea
• Drowsiness

Cost Of Acupuncture In Arthritis

The overall cost of acupuncture depends on certain factors, like:

• The location and type of clinic
• The number of sessions
• The experience and qualification of your practitioner.
• The consultation cost.
• The number of follow-up visits.
• Whether or not insurance covers your acupuncture therapy cost.

On average, the cost of acupuncture for arthritis can range from £60-£200 per session.

Conclusion

All in all, acupuncture is an effective therapy to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. It works by promoting blood flow and stimulating the release of natural body hormones, like cortisol and endorphins to alleviate inflammation and pain. Moreover, acupuncture therapy has minimal to no side effects, and can be taken with other treatments like physical therapies, medications, or exercises.