PAIN MANAGEMENT

Physical pain is an everyday occurrence for many people.

In addition to treatments with various medications, people may try acupuncture to find relief from acute or chronic pain. The following is some general information about acupuncture for your consideration:

• Acupuncture for back pain is the most commonly reported use, followed by joint pain, neck pain, and headache.
• Acupuncture is showing some very promising findings for some conditions, such as chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) sponsors a wide range of acupuncture research.
• Acupuncture is generally considered very safe when performed correctly.
• Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture is based on the concept that disease results from a disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang.
• Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi which is the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health.

“I suffered from severe migraine headaches and I tried everything, including visits to the dentist, ophthalmologist, and neurologist I had some success with medication prescribed by the neurologist but the side effect were not worth the relief. On the suggestion of a friend, I tried acupuncture. Acupuncture has made such a difference in my life!” — Brooke K.

Use of Acupuncture for Pain

Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system. It may be sharp or dull, off-and-on or steady, localized (such as back pain), or all over (muscle aches from the flu). Pain can alert us to injuries and illnesses that need attention. Chronic pain may be due to an ongoing condition (such as arthritis), to abnormal activity in pain-sensing regions of the brain, or the cause may not be known.

Acupuncture, among the oldest healing practices in the world, is part of Traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture practitioners stimulate specific points on the body; most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, this regulates the flow of qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians.

A special analysis of acupuncture data from an earlier NHIS found that pain or musculoskeletal complaints accounted for 7 of the top 10 conditions for which people use acupuncture. Back pain was the most common, followed by joint pain, neck pain, severe headache/migraine, and recurring pain. Acupuncture is also used for a wide range of pain conditions, such as postoperative dental pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, low-back pain, menstrual cramps, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, and tennis elbow.

Four out of Five Patients at Island Acupuncture Get IMMEDIATE & LASTING Pain Relief.

“Gila really helped me with chronic foot problems. As someone who is a bit skeptical, it was hard for me to believe that acupuncture would help where so many treatments failed. Boy was I glad that I tried it! Dr. Peled really knows her stuff. You are in good hands.”  —  J. C., Coronado Resident

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“My experience at Island Acupuncture with Dr. Gila Peled has been so positive that it has fundamentally changed the way I view my own health. Prior to seeing her, I had tried a range of prescription medications to treat my pain and each would have unwanted side effects requiring more medication. It became a vicious cycle of treating pain and side effects from medications. Everything about Dr. Gila’s treatment contributes to helping the body to heal – the quiet office, relaxing music, low lighting, her gentle and caring manner, all set the stage for maximum benefit from the acupuncture treatment and truly make my visits enjoyable.  

The acupuncture treatment is simply a series of taps with small needles. Dr. Gila is highly skilled and experienced in her technique and is sensitive to any slight discomfort one may feel. I have experienced a radical improvement in my pain and no longer have to use any prescription pain medication. She has opened my eyes to the more holistic approach of taking care of my own health and wellness using more natural methods.” — Ann W.