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Pain Management - Rhode Island Acupuncture
Pain: An American Epidemic and How Acupuncture Can Help
-Dr. Jon Hagenburg, DA
Pain has been explained as being a “silent epidemic” in America and an estimated 50 million people live with chronic pain. Another 25 million Americans suffer from acute pain which may be resulting from acute trauma, an accident, or from a surgical procedure. The American Academy of Pain Management states that, “Approximately two thirds of these individuals in pain have been living with this pain for more than five years.”
There is no denying the extent chronic pain has on the sufferer?s life such as influencing daily activities and hobbies, performing functions at work and many times being able to work at all, in addition to affecting relationships and sex. David Morris, author of the text, “The Culture of Pain,” states, “We certainly cannot succeed as a culture by continuing to deny and ignore pain, as if we could silence it beneath a mountain of pills.”
The overall medical paradigm understands the difficulties in treating pain. The American Pain Society wrote in 1999 that 40% of the public who suffer from moderate to severe pain could not find adequate pain relief.
With such high statistics of untreated pain, one would think that the health system would work to accommodate this demand but according to the American Academy of Pain Management, those suffering with chronic pain have much difficulty in finding a physician who can “effectively treat their pain.” Because of the lack of care received, one in four patients has noted that they have changed physicians three or more times in their fight to relieve their unrelenting pain.
Unfortunately, physicians are focusing their treatment methods of pain on medication and ignore the other factors influencing the pain of the body. For example, if one has an autoimmune disorder, the inflammatory process will continue to be increased causing more pain. Therefore, why would one solely focus on the pain signal with an analgesic or pain killer. The underlying influences allowing the chronic inflammation and pain to continue to occur, must be treated for the patient to obtain any long term relief.
This is the focus of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. This medical system focuses on signaling the nervous and vascular system to function more optimally, thereby influencing cells, tissues, glands, and organ function. The result of this is not only immediate pain relief but long term relief over a series of acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture in the modern world is not the ancient medicine many think of today. It is true that acupuncture and Chinese medicine originated in China several thousand years ago, but since this time, and especially in the last 30 years, science has played a major role in the advancement of acupuncture in the United States.
The present day acupuncture treatment takes into account the pathological issues within the body that may impede it from being able to maintain a sustained decrease in inflammation and overall pain. By taking into account the past history of the patient and understanding their medical diseases and disorders, along with the overall body?s functioning, the acupuncture physician can help regulate the physiological aspects of the body so that it more efficiently can heal itself. This allows for long term relief from chronic pain in addition to providing the patient with a healthier life in general.
In addition to receiving acupuncture and Chinese medical treatment, one can use natural supplements, dietary, and lifestyle therapies to overcome their chronic pain. For example, food allergens will increase inflammation throughout the body therefore increasing any chronic pain disorder already present. Exercise is highly important for those in chronic pain for the movements involved in exercising aids the circulation of blood and nutrients through the joints and tissues. Along with this, an intake of high amounts of fruits and vegetables will provide essential nutrients such as potassium and magnesium, which are involved in the contraction and relaxation of muscles. This is highly important for decreasing muscle spasms and knots which will cause tightness of the body.
If you find yourself to be one of the 50 million Americans suffering from pain and one of the 40% who have not found effective pain relief, you may find the results you are seeking by modifying your diet and lifestyle habits and consulting with an acupuncturist.
Source: Weiner, Kathry, PhD, American Academy of Pain Management; Pain Is An Epidemic - A Message From The Director; American Academy of Pain Management; http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A... %2Fliterature%2FArticles%2FPainAnEpidemic.pdf&ei=pyZgTJHXIIL48Ab64LiVBw&usg=AFQjCNGiKX1BuYQJn32GqopcOqiD9LBOpw; Accessed 8/9/2010
About The Author:
Dr. Jon Hagenburg, DA practices out of East Greenwich, RI at his office, Rhode Island Acupuncture and Complementary Health Center ComplementaryHealthCenter.com. He specializes in the treatment of pain at his general health practice.
His past experience includes working in one of the busiest acupuncture clinics in the country where he administered an average of 150 treatments per week himself. He also interned in Beijing, China where he took part in acupuncture treatments in the city?s hospitals and herbal formulation preparation in the hospital?s herbal pharmacies.
To schedule an appointment or free consultation with Dr. Hagenburg, call 401-398-1103.
ComplementaryHealthCenter.com
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