According to the National Center for Health Statistics as well as the National Institutes of Health, approximately one in ten adults experiences some form of chronic pain. This translates to approximately 25 million adults, or 11.2 percent of the total population, looking for relief from pain.
Acupuncture treatment in Seattle may not be the first choice of western medical experts, but it is quickly becoming a choice of patients, particularly those who cannot tolerate the side-effects of the use of prescription pain medications.
The Overall Results of Chronic Pain
There is a laundry list of physical and mental health issues that can stem from individuals trying to simply live with chronic pain. Long or short-term pain can result in a wide range of health issues including:
- Increased risk of depression
- Higher than average diagnosis of anxiety disorders
- Higher rates of physical and emotional exhaustion and fatigue
- Lower levels of motivation
- Higher irritability, impatience and difficulty in working with others
- Increased job loss and earlier retirement
- Loss of interpersonal relationships
- Withdrawal and isolation
- Weight loss or gain
- Poor immune system functioning
- Increased challenges with insomnia
- Changes in brain chemistry and nervous system response
For some individuals, the prescription medications recommended for chronic and severe pain may create similar side-effects and symptoms, leaving these individuals in a no-win situation.
The Alternative
For both short-term and chronic types of pain, acupuncture can be highly effective. It can completely eliminate the need for painkillers, many which are not an option for long-term use, and it can also avoid the dependency issues that are so problematic with many of the prescription options.
With pain acupuncture treatment a very small, sterilize needle is inserted just under the surface of the skin in a particular area of the body. The acupuncturist carefully assesses the pain to determine the correct are of the body to apply these needles, which are about the same size in diameter as a human hair.
The stimulation of these particular areas of the body helps to balance the flow of energy through the body, known as the Qi. Through a series of treatments this energy flow can be cleared, allowing the body to naturally address the pain.
It is important to understand that pain acupuncture is for the treatment of the pain, but not the underlying medical or trauma issues. It is, therefore, important to ensure that any underlying medical issues are addressed before booking your pain acupuncture sessions in Seattle. Click here for more details.
