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Book I - Pain Syndromes
Chapter 1 Low Back Pain
Chapter 2 Neck Pain
Chapter 3 Cancer Pain
Chapter 4 Headaches
Chapter 5 Spinal Stenosis
Chapter 6 Sciatica
Chapter 7 Arthritis
Chapter 8 Fibromyalgia
Chapter 9 Motor Vehicle Injuries
Chapter 10 Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Chapter 11 Vertebral Body
Fractures
Chapter 12 Hip and Leg Pain
Chapter 13 Diabetic Peripheral
Neuropathy
Book II - Interventional Procedures
Chapter 14 Epidural Steroid
Injection
Chapter 15 Facet Injections/Medial
Branch Blocks
Chapter 16 Radiofrequency Ablation
Chapter 17 Spinal Cord Stimulator
Implants
Chapter 18 IntraDiscal
Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Chapter 19
Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
Chapter 20 Discography
Chapter 21 Percutaneous
Discectomy
Chapter 22 Occipital Nerve Block
Chapter 23 Sympathetic Block
Chapter 24 Stellate Ganglion Block
Chapter 25 Intrathecal Pump
Implants
Chapter 26 Caudal Steroid Injection
Chapter 27 Adhesiolysis
Chapter 28 Cervical Steroid
Injection
Chapter 29 Sacroiliac Joint
Injections
Chapter 30 Celiac Plexus Block
Chapter 31 Head and Neck
Procedures
Chapter 32 Joint Injections
Chapter 33 Continuous Catheter
Nerve Blocks
Chapter 34 Peripheral Nerve
Stimulation/Field Stimulation
Chapter 35 Disc Denervation
Book III Other Treatments
Chapter 36 Medication Management
Chapter 37 Acupuncture
Chapter 38 Prolotherapy
Chapter 39 Botox
Chapter 40 Massage
Chapter 41 Alternative and
Complementary Medicines
Chapter 42 Exercise and Nutrition
Counseling
Chapter 43 Prayer
Chapter 44 Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Chapter 45 Group Therapy
Chapter 46 Biofeedback
Chapter 47 Chiropractic
Manipulations
Chapter 48 Vitamin Supplements
Chapter 49 Customized
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Chapter 50 Hormone Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 1 Low Back Pain
Chapter 2 Neck Pain
Chapter 3 Cancer Pain
Chapter 4 Headaches
Chapter 5 Spinal Stenosis
Chapter 6 Sciatica
Chapter 7 Arthritis
Chapter 8 Fibromyalgia
Chapter 9 Motor Vehicle Injuries
Chapter 10 Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Chapter 11 Vertebral Body
Fractures
Chapter 12 Hip and Leg Pain
Chapter 13 Diabetic Peripheral
Neuropathy
Book II - Interventional Procedures
Chapter 14 Epidural Steroid
Injection
Chapter 15 Facet Injections/Medial
Branch Blocks
Chapter 16 Radiofrequency Ablation
Chapter 17 Spinal Cord Stimulator
Implants
Chapter 18 IntraDiscal
Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Chapter 19
Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
Chapter 20 Discography
Chapter 21 Percutaneous
Discectomy
Chapter 22 Occipital Nerve Block
Chapter 23 Sympathetic Block
Chapter 24 Stellate Ganglion Block
Chapter 25 Intrathecal Pump
Implants
Chapter 26 Caudal Steroid Injection
Chapter 27 Adhesiolysis
Chapter 28 Cervical Steroid
Injection
Chapter 29 Sacroiliac Joint
Injections
Chapter 30 Celiac Plexus Block
Chapter 31 Head and Neck
Procedures
Chapter 32 Joint Injections
Chapter 33 Continuous Catheter
Nerve Blocks
Chapter 34 Peripheral Nerve
Stimulation/Field Stimulation
Chapter 35 Disc Denervation
Book III Other Treatments
Chapter 36 Medication Management
Chapter 37 Acupuncture
Chapter 38 Prolotherapy
Chapter 39 Botox
Chapter 40 Massage
Chapter 41 Alternative and
Complementary Medicines
Chapter 42 Exercise and Nutrition
Counseling
Chapter 43 Prayer
Chapter 44 Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Chapter 45 Group Therapy
Chapter 46 Biofeedback
Chapter 47 Chiropractic
Manipulations
Chapter 48 Vitamin Supplements
Chapter 49 Customized
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Chapter 50 Hormone Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Common conditions successfully treated by acupuncture include:
• Osteoarthritis (Berman 2004)
• Low Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Migraine Headaches (Facco 2007)
• Fibromyalgia (Mayo Clinic 2006)
• Postoperative Pain
• Chemotherapy Induced Nausea
• Menstrual Cramps
• Periodontitis (Wu 2007)
• Other Pain Conditions
Procedure
In the United States, two types of medical professionals are performing acupuncture:
Medical Doctors – Some physicians offer acupuncture as adjunctive therapy to their patients. Most states require that
these doctors have 200 to 300 hours of acupuncture training in addition to their medical training.
Alternative Providers – To obtain certification, these professionals typically complete 2,000 to 3,000 hours of training
and successfully complete board examinations conducted by a national acupuncture accreditation agency.
On your initial visit, you can expect your acupuncturist to obtain a thorough history and perform a targeted physical
exam. They will also discuss your diagnosis and the expected outcome of treatment. Sterilized, fine stainless steel
needles are used during treatment. You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is first inserted, but typically
pain is not a sensation felt. The slight sharp feeling you experience when the needle is inserted is typically more
comfortable than the prick you feel during an injection because of the needles fine caliber. Several needles are placed
in multiple stimulating locations and the needles are sometimes moved gently or stimulated with electricity to enhance
their effect. You may feel heaviness, numbness, or tingling after the needles have been inserted. The needles usually
stay in place for fifteen to thirty minutes and a typical session lasts about an hour. After your treatment you are able to
return to your normal activity directly afterwards. Most practitioners will recommend several treatments to see if this
treatment will work for you.
Benefits
Acupuncture has been found to be a successful alternative treatment for many different painful conditions. The Western
Medicine Theory of acupuncture today differs from the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory because the Western
Medicine concept focuses on the impact of neuroscience. Recently, the Mayo Clinic published an article describing the
proposed neuroscientific mechanisms thought to be influenced by acupuncture:
• Central Nervous System Stimulation - Acupuncture may stimulate the nerves in your spinal cord to release pain-
suppressing neurotransmitters.
• Endorphin Release - Endorphins are your body’s natural Morphine. They are part of your body's natural pain-control
system and are released into the central nervous system when stimulated by acupuncture. Endorphins seem to reduce
pain in a similar manor to the effects of taking a pain medication.
• Vital Signs - Acupuncture may also have an effect on your blood pressure, blood flow and body temperature, which
are regulated by the central nervous system. The small thin needles seem to increase the blood flow in the area
surrounding the needle. The increase in blood flow supplies nourishment to tissue and removes toxic substances (Mayo
Clinic 2004).
A major benefit to many patients is that acupuncture is a drug-free way to decrease pain. Although many patients may
experience pain relief with pharmacologic treatments, there is a concern of overuse and dependence that can limit their
effectiveness. People with chronic pain conditions taking opiod medications often develop medication tolerance and
need an increased dosage to achieve the same effect. With acupuncture, you may be able to effectively decrease your
pain without taking medications, or can be used effectively in conjunction with other treatments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has practiced acupuncture for more than 2,000 years to balance opposing forces of yin
and yang by releasing “Chi” (energy). It is thought that when yin and yang are in harmony, chi flows freely within the
body and a person is considered healthy. In theory, when a person is sick or injured, there is a barrier to the normal flow
of chi. When the barrier is removed by acupuncture, chi is restored and equilibrium is obtained. Traditional Chinese
medicine has identified some 500 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.
Risks
As with all medications and interventions, there is a risk of complications. Reported risks and complications associated
with acupuncture are extremely rare and the procedure is considered very safe. The main risks may include an
increased risk of superficial bleeding or bruising at the needle sites. People with bleeding disorders or who those taking
blood thinners (including daily aspirin) should discuss this with their acupuncturist before proceeding. A serious risk is
the transmission of infectious diseases (HIV and Hepatitis) that may be transmitted. However, this risk is diminished if
you go to an experienced provider who sterilizes or does not reuse needles.
Outcome
In today’s Western Medicine acupuncture has emerged as an effective treatment option for many different conditions. A
published research study in 2007 said that acupuncture was the only treatment for Migraines that was able to provide a
steady improvement in symptoms, compared to the traditional pharmacologic treatment of Rizatriptan (Facco 2007).
Another study, which examined the effects that acupuncture had on patients with Osteoarthritis concluded that
acupuncture plus routine care is associated with, marked clinical improvement in patients (Witt 2006).
It should be noted that acupuncture should not be considered first-line treatment for many serious conditions including
cancer, dabetes, and infection. Acupuncture has proven to be very valuable in treating several diseases and pain
conditions, especially chronic persistent pain. Currently researchers are examining the effects acupuncture has on
treating obesity and addiction. The results are still unpublished, but may be promising.
If you are suffering from a painful condition that has been refractory to other treatments, contact Arizona Pain Specialists
today to see if you can benefit from acupuncture or other treatments.
Articles
www.NCCAOM.org
Traditional Acupuncture in Migraine: A Controlled, Randomized Study. Facco E, Liguori A, Petti F, Zanette G, Coluzzi F,
De Nardin M, Mattia C. Headache. 2007 Sep 14 PMID: 17868354
Advances of clinical studies on acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of periodontitis Wu YT, Liu LA. Zhongguo
Zhen Jiu. 2007 Aug;27(8):620-2 PMID: 17853765
Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled trial. Berman
BM, Lao L, Langenberg P, Lee WL, Gilpin AM, Hochberg MC. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Dec 21;141(12):901-10 PMID:
15611487
Study finds acupuncture improves fibromyalgia symptoms. Mayo Clinic Womens Healthsource. 2006 Dec;10(12):3
Mayo Clinic Checkup / December 2004 (Vol. 11, No. 6) Getting the point Patients find relief with acupuncture
Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip: a randomized, controlled trial with an additional
nonrandomized arm. Witt CM, Jena S, Brinkhaus B, Liecker B, Wegscheider K, Willich SN. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Nov;54
(11):3485-93
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RECLAIM YOUR LIFE.
| Arizona Pain Specialists 9787 N. 91st Street, Suite 101 Scottsdale, AZ. 85258 Phone: 480-563-6400 |
Arizona Pain Specialists 2007. All rights reserved
Acupuncture
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Paul Lynch M.D, and Tory McJunkin M.D
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that was originally started
in China over 2000 years ago and is quickly gaining acceptance
and popularity by Western Medicine for the treatment of many
conditions (Facco 2007). Research continues to explore the use
of acupuncture in the treatment of many chronic pain conditions.
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Paul Lynch M.D, and Tory McJunkin M.D
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that was originally started
in China over 2000 years ago and is quickly gaining acceptance
and popularity by Western Medicine for the treatment of many
conditions (Facco 2007). Research continues to explore the use
of acupuncture in the treatment of many chronic pain conditions.
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appointment Today.
appointment Today.
Information about how
Arizona Pain Specialists can
help you just Click Here.
Arizona Pain Specialists can
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