Acupuncture is a great treatment to help the body heal itself naturally by promoting blood flow, stimulating the body’s built in healing mechanism and releasing natural painkillers. This is why acupuncture is a common modality that shoulder pain sufferers turn to. Shoulder pain can be associated with problems concerning the rotator cuff, tendinitis, a tear, arthritis or a shoulder dislocation.
How is Acupuncture effective?
Promoting blood flow is essential to helping the body heal injuries. Alone, blood contains oxygen, nutrients, hormones, analgesics and anti-inflammatories. Therefore, with an increase in blood flow, acupuncture has the ability to increase blood flow when triggered in areas of injury to help nourish and heal the muscles. Acupuncture can aid in stimulating the body’s ability to heal injuries through the immune, nervous and endocrine system by creating “micro traumas.”
In addition to increasing blood flow, acupuncture can help relax the mind and body by inserting needles. The needles send a signal through the nervous system to the brain, where natural pain killers such as norepinephrine, endorphins and encephalin are released. By relaxing the mind and body and releasing these natural pain killers, acupuncture can be a great option to help speed up the recovery time in a safe and reliable way.
Shoulder pain can be a burden to deal with because it controls many movements you do with your arms on an everyday basis. Shoulder pain can’t be ignored as easily as other injuries because the pain can interfere with several activities and make an active lifestyle nearly impossible to live.
How can I deal with the pain in-between the injury and recovery peri
od?
Since shoulder pain could severely limit your ability to perform everyday tasks, it’s important to know where your pain is coming from and what you can do to help ease it. Shoulder pain issues tend to happen most frequently when there is a tear or tendinitis (also known as bursitis) in the rotator cuff, arthritis, shoulder dislocation, in which the scapula disconnects with the top of the arm bone, and several others.
In order for pain in the shoulder to temporary fade, patients are advised to seek out healthy ways of reducing the pain and inflammation that they are experiencing. Some of these healthy methods include:
- Moderate Rest
- Ice Application
- Physical Therapy
- Acupuncture
Although many people may turn to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms, it’s important that people try to avoid these medications as much as possible. NSAIDS are quick and reliable to alleviate temporary pain but have major long-term side effects such as kidney damage and gastrointestinal conditions. It is also known as one of the leading causes of death in the United States, which is why finding ways to reduce your pain and inflammation without the use of medication is crucial to maintaining a healthy life.
Acupuncture at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation
Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation of Monmouth County employs experienced, state-certified acupuncturists that specialize in the treatment of shoulder pain. We also offer other services such as chiropractic, physical therapy and deep tissue massage. Please contact our office at 732-345-1377 for more information about acupuncture for shoulder pain. These services will be available in our Wall office.
