Acupuncture is a safe and effective option to manage all sorts of pain, including chronic back pain, headaches, neck pain, and much more, in an effort to improve your quality of life. Acupuncture is a practice of ancient Chinese medicine that involves gently inserting hair-thin needles into the skin in order to stimulate the muscles, nerves, and connective tissues throughout the body. Acupuncture aims to alleviate pain, stress, and tension by restoring balance in the body. Dr. DeCaria is a double-board certified physician in anesthesiology and pain management with extensive training and experience in treating and alleviating a myriad of pain conditions. Dr. DeCaria can help you identify if acupuncture can help relieve your pain. She has also brought in two highly qualified, licensed acupuncturists to help treat her Medicare patients with back pain, since Medicare now covers acupuncture for low back pain.
Beyond pain management, acupuncture treatments can contribute to additional long-term benefits such as strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and improving sleep.
During an acupuncture treatment, the needles are placed in specific acupuncture points that are part of pathways which create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced “chee”) throughout the body that is responsible for one’s health. Ancient Chinese medicine describes disruption to this energy flow as contributing to disease, however, the acupuncture applied to these certain points improves the flow of Qi, thus improving health. These acupuncture points stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. This may stimulate the body’s healing ability and promote emotional and physical well-being.
Acupuncture is often used as a supplement to other medical treatments in pain management. Depending on the severity of a patient’s condition, they may find pain relief for several hours to weeks/months post acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture can be used for many conditions including sciatica pain, migraine and tension headaches, osteoarthritis, and chronic back pain. Acupuncture has also been shown by many research studies to be effective for headaches, epicondylitis, fibromyalgia, muscle pain, arthritis, low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. If after four to five treatments you are not seeing some sort of benefit beyond the treatment day itself, it is time to re-evaluate whether acupuncture is the right treatment for you. You can discuss with your acupuncturist, functional medicine practitioner, or pain doctor.
It is important to discuss your specific pain and history with Dr. DeCaria so that she can help you pinpoint the root of your pain, and the best path of relief for you. Call Revitalize Medical Center today to book your appointment with Dr. DeCaria in either our Evanston, IL or Glenview, IL locations!
Disclaimer:
This website (including all pages and blog posts) is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. To schedule an appointment at Revitalize Medical Center, please call (847) 834-4018.