Acupuncture For Chronic Shoulder Pain
If you are going through long-term pain due to any illness and are tired of using traditional painkillers, you can try acupuncture. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicinal therapy that helps relieve pain that may occur from chronic diseases or health conditions. It has minimal side effects and helps soothe pain naturally.
Shoulder pain commonly occurs when your rotator cuff, a group of tendons and muscles surrounding the shoulder joints, becomes inflamed. According to a survey, shoulder pain affects 18-26% of individuals at any point in life.
Typical treatments for shoulder pain include physiotherapy and over-the-counter medications that help relieve pain. However, with time these treatments may become ineffective, and you might be looking for an alternative but natural solution to relieve chronic pain. Acupuncture is a natural, non-drug therapy that helps treat shoulder pain.
But how does acupuncture work for shoulder pain? In this blog, we will discuss all the effects of acupuncture on shoulder pain, its benefits, how the procedure works, and many more. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
What Is Acupuncture And How Does It Work?
Acupuncture is a form of complementary therapy or Chinese medicine that inserts thin needles into specific points of the body to stimulate the natural healing response to pain.
The points where needles are inserted in the body are known as acupuncture points. Acupuncture points are chosen according to the affected areas causing disease or pain. For example, if someone is suffering from shoulder pain, the acupuncture points will be near the shoulders or arms.
In Chinese medicine, our body’s energy is known as ‘qi.’ Chinese practitioners believe that an imbalance or disruption in the flow of energy or ‘qi’ causes illness or pain. Acupuncture is used to restore the flow of energy in the body by touching or stimulating the affected areas, i.e., acupuncture points.
What Causes Chronic Shoulder Pain And How Does Acupuncture Help?
Chronic shoulder pain may arise as a result of various reasons. These include:
Injuries
Sprains
Arthritis
Infection
Tumors
Nerve-related disorders
Tendonitis (swelling of the shoulder tendons)
Rotator cuff disease,
Frozen shoulders
Repetitive movements, or Other high-risk activities, like excessive workouts or sports.
Shoulder pain can lead to discomfort, swelling, and decreased range of motion with sudden, sharp, and shooting pain.
Along with icing the affected areas and rest, using OTC anti-inflammatory and pain medications, you can try acupuncture therapy for additional comfort and relief.
Whether you are suffering from mild or chronic pain, acupuncture can be used as a natural pain-relief treatment. You may require a few sessions with the acupuncturist for effective results. Now, the question is how acupuncture helps relieve arthritis pain.
Acupuncture works by stimulating pain points (areas causing pain) in your shoulders with the help of needles. This increases blood flow to the arms and shoulders, delivering nutrients to your damaged or torn tissues, thus, healing pain. The insertion of needles also stimulates the central nervous system, increasing the release of pain-relieving chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the body, helping to manage pain.
Benefits Of Acupuncture For Shoulder Pain
After your acupuncture sessions, you may notice the following benefits or outcomes:
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Acupuncture helps reduce inflammation and pain in your shoulders.
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Shoulder pain may limit the ability to move your arms. Acupuncture helps improve the range of motion of your shoulders, arms, and nearby areas. It helps reduce muscle tension and improves joint mobility.
Acupuncture releases tight muscles.
Acupuncture improves blood flow to the aching areas.
Another benefit of acupuncture for shoulder pain is that it reduces your dependency on painkillers, whose long-term use may harm your kidneys.
It reduces pain-related stress and improves overall body relaxation.
You can use acupuncture in combination with other treatments for shoulder pain, such as icing, physical therapies, and certain anti-inflammatory medications. Acupuncture does not restrict you from other treatments.
How Long Does It Take For Acupuncture To Work For Chronic Shoulder Pain?
How long acupuncture takes to work for shoulder pain depends on the severity of your disease. If the pain or injury is mild, you may notice relief after the first session, and for chronic shoulder pain, it may require 2 to 3 sessions.
You can continue acupuncture therapy as per your need and comfort. Some people like to take ongoing sessions as they find the treatment pain-relieving, relaxing, and comfortable.
How Many Acupuncture Sessions Are Recommended For Chronic Shoulder Pain?
The number of sessions recommended for chronic shoulder pain may vary in patients depending on the overall health condition and severity of the disease or injury.
At your consultation visit, your practitioner will assess the underlying cause of your shoulder pain, medical history, and health condition.
Next, they will recommend the number of acupuncture sessions according to your disease. Initially, there are one or two sessions per week for 4 weeks. Then your acupuncturist may recommend sessions twice or once a month, or as per need.
Is Acupuncture Safe For Shoulder Pain?
Overall, acupuncture is considered a safe treatment for shoulder pain and has minimal chances of side effects if performed by a qualified and experienced acupuncturist. Some possible side effects of acupuncture for shoulder pain may include:
Infections: Infections commonly occur if the needles are non-sterilized or improperly inserted.
Bleeding or bruising: You may feel slight bruising or swelling at the injection site. Bleeding may be rare.
Fatigue: Sometimes acupuncture can cause fatigue, especially during the first session when you are not used to the treatment.
How Effective Is Acupuncture For Shoulder Pain?
It is important to note that the effectiveness of shoulder pain may vary in people, depending on the underlying cause of pain, the patient’s body factors, the severity of the disease, and overall health condition.
Some people find acupuncture effective after a single session, some notice results after a few visits, while some may not feel outcomes even after a couple of months. Hence, our body’s may respond differently to the therapy.
In 2019, a randomized controlled trial conducted on 1619 patients with shoulder pain showed that acupuncture was more effective than other standard treatments, like physiotherapy, in improving shoulder function and reducing pain intensity.
Conclusion
To conclude, acupuncture is a natural and safe treatment to relieve mild or chronic shoulder pain. It increases blood flow to the affected areas and stimulates the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body, like endorphins.
You can try acupuncture alone or in combination with other standard treatments. However, acupuncture is not a substitute for medical treatments recommended by your doctor. It is crucial to address and treat the underlying cause of your shoulder pain to eliminate the illness completely.
Q. What are the disadvantages of acupuncture?
The risks and disadvantages of acupuncture are minimal if performed by a qualified and experienced medical practitioner. They may include bleeding or swelling. But overall, there are no drawbacks to acupuncture. It is a procedure that helps in relieving pain and inflammation naturally.
Q. Can I quit other treatments prescribed by my doctor after starting acupuncture?
You should not quit other treatments or stop going to the doctor or specialist after starting acupuncture. Depending on your disease severity, you may need other treatments as well to treat arthritis, for example, surgery or certain medications.
Acupuncture is only used to help relieve arthritis symptoms. Hence, it is crucial to get your condition diagnosed and treated properly by an orthopedic, and receive acupuncture alongside other treatments to maximize outcomes.
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.