Back pain is one of the leading causes of work-related sickness absence. Approximately 40% of people experience lower back pain at some point in their adult life. Acute episodes are usually less than 6 weeks in duration, while chronic lower back pain can last for more than 12 weeks. The causes can range from strains in the muscles of the back, or a structural problem like a damaged vertebral disc which can result in a pinched or irritated nerve. Back pain can also be a symptom indicating a kidney infection. Western medical treatment in the acute phase is generally by pain relief with Paracetamol, and anti-inflammatories such as Diclofenac. In the long term physiotherapy is used to encourage, through exercises, the strengthening of the muscles of the back.
Traditional acupuncture regards symptoms like back pain as an indication that the body's Qi (or energy) is out of balance in some way. The nature and extent of the imbalance is determined through diagnosis, and this is achieved through asking the patient to relate the history of the complaint, the nature of the symptoms, and information about what improves or aggravates them. The practitioner will also need to examine the pulse, which is felt at both wrists, with particular attention being paid to qualities such as strength, depth and rhythm.
Treatment can be directed at either the root of the imbalance or the outward manifestation. In the case of lower back pain there are specific acupuncture points which can address the root or systemic cause of the problem; or points which can be used to alleviate the immediate pain and inflammation. It s not unusual to treat both the systemic cause and the outward manifestation in the same treatment.
Modern research has generally shown that acupuncture is significantly better than no intervention, and at least as effective as the standard Western medical interventions (more information on http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-condiions/a-to-z-of-conditions/back-pain.html).The use of traditional acupuncture in the treatment of low back pain received a significant endorsement in May 2009 when the National Institute of clinical Excellence, NICE published a guidance paper for GP's recommending that they offer a course of 10 sessions of acupuncture as a first line treatment for persistent, non specific lower back pain,http://www.nice.org.uk/CG88
Osteoarthritis is, as anyone who has this condition will know, can be extremely painful, and debilitating. From a biomedical standpoint it affects the cartilage and other parts of the body's joints; mainly the knee and hip. The condition is characterised by short or extended episodes of significant pain and loss of function, that is often accompanied by inflammation. The treatments which western medicine have developed to treat osteoarthritis range from various pain relief and steroid preparations to joint replacement.
Acupuncture, on the other hand, is based on the principles underlying traditional Chinese medicine theory. It may, as a stand alone treatment or in combination with western medical treatment, help relieve pain and improve movement for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Acupuncture has, as an underlying principle a holistic approach to health, and it recognizes that we are all closely connected with nature and the earth. From a scientific point of view we are composed of the same fundamental constituents that are found in all elements of life and we are also subject to the same cycles that exist in nature. Another important concept underpinning acupuncture and Chinese medicine is that of Qi or vital energy. Symptoms or conditions such as osteoarthritis are thought, from the standpoint of Chinese medicine to arise from imbalances in the body's Qi.
Acupuncture seeks to treat the person as a whole rather than specific symptoms in isolation. This is achieved by correcting the imbalances in the flow of Qi, which are diagnosed through taking a detailed medical history, examination of the tongue coating and reading the pulses at the wrist. The treatment is carried out by the insertion of very fine needles into specific points. An important aim of treatment is also to improve the harmony of the body's natural cycles and in this way help maintain health.
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The June 2013 edition of the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies reports on a study that found acupuncture helpful with fibromyalgia symptoms, including reducing pain sensitivity ... Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is believed to affect between 3% and 5% of the population according to a survey in five European countries. Conventional therapies often have limited success in treating this complex and unexplained condition and the treatment strategy often consists in prescribing different medications for the varying symptoms in a trial and error approach. A vast majority of fibromyalgia sufferers tend to turn to complementary therapies to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be an effective treatment modality.
What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain is often described as a diffuse, aching or burning sensation and may change in intensity and change location although it is commonly more severe in parts of the body that are used the most. The accompanying fatigue may range from feeling tired to experiencing the exhaustion of a "flu like" illness. It can come on suddenly, leaving the person feel completely drained, as if someone just "pulled the plug". While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:
• chronic pain • debilitating fatigue • difficulty sleeping and unrefreshing sleep • joint stiffness • chronic headaches (ranging from ordinary headaches to migraines) and jaw pain • hypersensitivity to smells, bright lights and loud noises • lack of concentration ("foggy or fuzzy head") and poor memory • irritable bowel syndrome • numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet • poor circulation in hands and feet
Although fibromyalgia is not new, it can be difficult to diagnose as the condition cannot be identified through standard tests (X-rays, laboratory tests) but the widely accepted criteria for diagnosis are: - pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and - pain on pressure in at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body
Most people report that their symptoms started after a physical or emotional trauma, a period of stress or overwork, sometimes accompanied by a bout of flu or other illness that the person didn't fully recover from although in some cases there appears to be no triggering event. Fibromyalgia affects more women than men and age may be a factor too.
Eastern Perspective on Fibromyalgia
As with any other Western "disease" or pathology, Chinese medicine does not classify fibromyalgia as one specific disease pattern. Rather it looks at the condition as a disruption of the flow of energy or Qi in the body which may be characterized by a stagnation or a deficiency of Qi in several areas (more commonly affecting the Liver, Spleen, Kidney and Heart meridians).
Treatment then aims to address the specific imbalance unique to each individual depending on the intensity and location of the pain, the person's constitution, emotional state, digestive health, sleeping patterns and an array of other signs and symptoms. Therefore, if several people presenting with fibromyalgia are treated with acupuncture, it is very likely that they would receive a different treatment involving the use of different acupuncture points and different lifestyle and dietary recommendations.
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, acupuncture may be able to ease your symptoms and help you get back your health and vitality. Contact us for more information.
