Can patients with neuropathy use acupuncture to relieve pain and other symptoms?
As a popular form of Chinese medicine for thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat many different physical and mental ailments. Many people have asked us, can acupuncture help neuropathy? The short answer is yes, but we know you won’t be satisfied with such a simple answer, so let’s jump into a brief discussion on the subject.
A Quick Look at Neuropathy
Millions of people across the country suffer from some type of neuropathy, which refers to several different ailments affecting the nervous system. Many patients are prescribed pain medications, physical therapies, and sometimes even surgeries as a way to relieve the symptoms.
Acupuncture has proven to be quite effective in treating neuropathy, quickly becoming one of the most common alternative methods that have shown very positive results. This is because it focuses on the body’s natural healing capabilities, helping patients eliminate the underlying cause of their neuropathy. The method is 100% safe and performed by a certified acupuncturist.
What to Expect in a Neuropathy Acupuncture Session
Patients are always surprised at how smoothly an acupuncture session goes. Perhaps it’s because they expect anything involving needles to be painful or uncomfortable and then come away being pleasantly surprised. To give you an idea of what these sessions are like, here are a few things you can expect:
Lengthy Interview/Discussion
Either prior to or during your first acupuncture session, you’ll have a long interview or discussion with the therapist. During this discussion, you’ll go over all sorts of things that may be causing you distress. This could include everything from your sex life and digestive issues to menstruation cycles and work/life stressors. Some may seem irrelevant or unrelated, but basic issues can often point to larger ones that must be addressed.
Acupuncture Needle Insertion
During the session itself, acupuncture needles will be inserted into various parts of your body to help relieve your neuropathy issues. These needles are extremely thin and almost always painless. Rather than being placed at random, the needles will be strategically placed in areas known to provide relief for nerve pain, nerve damage, and other ailments.
Post-Acupuncture Treatment
Once the acupuncture treatment has concluded, you’ll have a quick post-acupuncture discussion. You may feel a little bit dizzy, especially if it’s your first session, because of the physical release and calming effect. There’s also the possibility of an emotional release, depending on your level of stress and other factors. At the end, you’ll also receive instructions for any at-home treatments or follow-ups.
Things to Remember for Your Acupuncture Session
If the effectiveness of an acupuncture session isn’t quite enough, perhaps you’ll also be impressed by the lack of preparation that’s needed. Acupuncture is a very relaxing procedure, and it starts with the very first contact with the therapist. That being said, there are a few things that you should remember for the session:
You Won’t Feel Much Pain, If Any at All
Many people are apprehensive about using acupuncture for neuropathy because they’re nervous about needles. They think there’s going to be a great deal of pain involved. On the contrary, acupuncture needles are designed to be so thin that they easily puncture your skin without causing pain. If you feel anything, there may be a slight pinch at the insertion point, but that’s it.
You Should Wear Loose Fitting Clothes
Unlike a standard massage session, there’s no reason to be undressed during an acupuncture procedure. This will probably come as a relief to many patients. That being said, it’s always better if you wear loose-fitting clothing to your session. Not only will you be comfortable, but this also makes it a lot easier for the acupuncturist if he or she needs to get access to certain points on your body.
You Might Feel an Emotional Release
Perhaps the most surprising thing that a new patient needs to prepare themselves for is the potential for an emotional release during an acupuncture session. Even though you may be visiting primarily for neuropathy, acupuncture will likely address other issues, some of which you may not even know you’re dealing with. If you’ve been handling a high level of stress, you may experience a significant and surprising emotional release.
Contact East West Healing Solutions for Acupuncture for Neuropathy
East West Healing Solutions can help provide relief from neuropathy and other physical and mental issues. If you have any questions about our services or would like to know how acupuncture for neuropathy in Palm Harbor can help you lead a better life, call our office at (727) 216-3972 today to schedule an appointment for acupuncture treatment.
