Doctors of chiropractic are experts in addressing musculoskeletal conditions without the use of drugs or surgery. While best known for spinal manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of evidence-based therapies to help their patients. Some DCs are even trained in acupuncture or work in integrative clinics where acupuncture is provided, giving patients access to two of the most effective non-drug approaches to pain management.
If acupuncture is on the list of your doctor’s services, here’s what you should know—including what it entails, conditions it may help treat, and who should avoid this type of treatment.
What Is Acupuncture?
During acupuncture, hair-like needles are inserted into specific points in the body to achieve various therapeutic effects. One of its effects is the release of tight muscles, making it easier for patients to move. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of certain hormones in the brain, providing benefits for some medical conditions.
Conditions Acupuncture Can Treat
One of the conditions treated by acupuncture is pain. Acupuncture has a profound effect on pain. It causes the brain to release some of the body’s natural pain relievers. That makes it a way to get pain relief without taking addictive medications. And it can be used for pain that exists in one area of the body (called local pain) or pain that is more widespread (systemic or chronic pain).
For chronic pain, you get a beneficial effect because you’re altering the brain chemistry. This has been supported by research using MRI images. When you induce pain, certain pain centers in the brain light up on functional MRIs, when you needle the patient, they turn off.
In addition to traditional body acupuncture, there are specific microsystems utilized in acupuncture. Acupuncture administered to the head (called scalp acupuncture) can be beneficial for treating neurological and psychological conditions, even helping to resolve addictions. Acupuncture performed on the ear (auricular acupuncture) can help you stop smoking and ease withdrawal from drugs.
Acupuncture also works very well for people who experience post-chemotherapy neuropathy. In fact, most cancer institutes have incorporated acupuncture as part of their treatment programs.
Acupuncture vs. Dry Needling: What’s the Difference?
Sometimes acupuncture is confused with dry needling, but they aren’t the same thing. In dry needling, the needles are longer and placed based on myofascial trigger points, which are the same trigger points targeted when patients get a cortisone shot.
Dry needling is the exact same thing without shooting in the cortisone. You needle the trigger point to get the muscle to twitch and release. Studies have shown that results are similar between dry needling and injection, which shows that the benefits come from inserting the needle into the muscle.
This makes dry needling good for musculoskeletal complaints that involve a restriction in movement, such as frozen shoulder, neck pain and back pain. But it’s also helpful if you’ve experienced trauma to the muscle, whether through a sports injury, a car accident, or due to a medical condition like arthritis.
Who Should Avoid Acupuncture?
Despite acupuncture’s many benefits, this treatment isn’t right for everyone. A proper case history and examination must be performed to determine if the patient is a candidate for acupuncture. Taking blood thinners or having recent joint replacement surgery might be contraindications for treatment.
Some medical conditions require you to avoid acupuncture over certain regions of the body, like lymphedema, complex regional pain (CPRS), or cancer.
Combining Acupuncture and Chiropractic
While acupuncture and chiropractic services are two different treatments, they can be used together to potentially provide greater benefit.
What to Expect
One concern that many have is, “Does acupuncture hurt?” Not if it’s done properly. Ancient Chinese proverbs describe it as “less than a mosquito bite.” You might feel a little bit of discomfort, but most patients find the experience relaxing.
The needles used for acupuncture are much smaller than those used for injections—or about the thickness of a hair. That allows them to enter the body without causing the same discomfort you might experience when getting a shot.
Each acupuncture session generally lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and you should begin to feel its benefits after just a few treatments. Talk to your chiropractor to learn what options exist for your medical condition or concerns.
Potential Side Effects
The risks of acupuncture treatment are minimal. The most common side effects are drowsiness, minor bleeding or bruising, or a temporary increase in symptoms. Some people feel more energetic after an acupuncture session.
Serious adverse side effects are rare. Fainting is also a rare occurrence following needling. This is the same response that causes people to faint at the sight of blood and is due to an overactive nervous system (vasovagal response).
The risk of infection is low if you are receiving acupuncture anywhere in the Western hemisphere. The sterile needles are used only once and then discarded.
How to Pick an Acupuncture Practitioner
If your chiropractor offers acupuncture, this is a good place to start. Otherwise, look for a practitioner that is licensed in your state and has experience treating your type of problem.
Dr. Matt Smith has been a Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs for 36 years. He and his daughter Dr. Kevy Smith Minogue can be reached at 518-587-2064 or at MySaratogaChiropractor.com.
