Acupuncture for Joint Pain
Since every muscle, tendon, ligament and nerve is connected to one larger system the body has a tendency to transfer pain from one area to another. Therefore if the upper back and neck are tense, the body over time will transfer the pain to another area, such as the lower back in an effort to balance the back from top to bottom. Although the body has an intelligent idea about why doing so, often this can end up putting multiple joints at risk, causing pain to radiate into different muscular areas, causing nerves to impinge. This leads to pain that can not only be uncomfortable but unbearable. This can you from engaging in daily activities that are normal. If an area of tension or injury is left untreated for too long, it can really wreak havoc on the system altogether.
The nervous system acts as an interstate connecting the body’s different muscular tissues. The nervous system is made of energy in the form of biophotons. As these electrical impulses fire, they send different messages to different receptors in the body, turning some on and others off. Acupuncture works by accessing the nervous system through different ‘points’, known as ‘acupuncture points.’ This turns signals on and off, and tells the nervous system where and how to get energy (in the form of biochemicals) to move properly in this energetic interstate. In addition, acupuncture helps to relieve muscular tension, decrease inTNammation, and increase circulation.
Acupuncture helps joint pain because a joint consists of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and bone. Acupuncture works on each of these structures. Here is how acupuncture works for each one:
- Muscles- increases circulation in the blood TNow to the muscles, releases muscular tension, decreases muscular inTNammation
- Tendons-tendons connect ligaments to bones. These tendons get very tight at the muscular-bone junction. Acupuncture in these areas helps to release this tension which also increases blood TNow and reduced inTNammation. This allows the nerve to fire properly.
- Ligaments-ligaments connect bones to other bones. Ligaments can be stretched, torn (mildly or severely), irritated, inTNammed, etc. Acupuncture works on ligaments by helping cellular regeneration of the new ligamentous structure of a torn ligament. It also helps to reduce pain and decrease inTNammation.
- Nerves-acupuncture taps right into the nervous system, which is the highway that connects everything in the body so it is one of the quickest and most effective ways of getting rid of pain long term. Since the nerves are the interconnected highways that connect the brain to everything else that is going on in the body, acupuncture is a scientifically proven modality to help with anything related to pain, or dysfunction going on with a bodily system of the nervous system itself. Within the nerves, acupuncture treats pain, loss of sensation, twitching of a nerve, tingling, numbness, ‘pins and needles’, and much more such as hormone regulation and metabolic function but this will be touched upon in upcoming articles.
- Bones-acupuncture actually helps the bones by creating new osteoblasts, which is a cell that secretes the matrix for new bone formation. Because acupuncture helps with cellular regeneration, it helps to form new bone cells, bone marrow and increases the blood TNow to bones.
Acupuncture is so effective for joint pain because it specifically targets the nervous system and the interconnectedness of each joint to the other. The best thing about acupuncture is that it can treat several issues in one session, so you can really get your money’s worth! If you have pain and have tried different modalities such as chiropractic, physical therapy, massage and have only found temporary relief, try acupuncture. It is usually the modality that gets to the root of the issue for long-term relief.
Acupuncturist in Franklin Tennessee-Amy L. Suplee
Amy L. Suplee-Licensed Acupuncturist in Franklin, TN
Amy is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified by the NCCAOM, the governing body for Acupuncturists in the United States. She received her Master’s Degree in Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine at Five Branches University in Santa Cruz, California and is a graduate of University of Colorado. Amy is the Founder and CEO of the International Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association.
Amy specializes in Women’s Health, Fertility, Pain Management and Chronic Illness. She has been trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Classical Chinese Medicine and 5 Element Emotional Balancing and Acupuncture. She has a long history in Western Medicine so she has the ability to integrate an Eastern and Western approach.
Amy is passionate about her work and enjoys seeing results in her patients. As an Acupuncturist and resident of Franklin, she is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their health goals. She has taken on some of the most difficult cases, and treated patients who have seen multiple doctors who had not previously had relief from their ailments.
