Arthritis Relief

Arthritis is a major source of pain for many Americans. Millions of people suffer from this debilitating disorder. Unfortunately, the new wonder drugs for this disorder, the so called “COX-2 inhibitors” (Celebrex, Vioxx etc.) have major cardiovascular side-effects and the majority of them are no longer available. Even over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and Tylenol can cause stomach ulcers or liver problems. These unwanted effects are leading more and more people to search for alternatives sources of pain relief. This is leading people to discover that Chinese medicine is a highly effective treatment for arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage leading to pain. While acupuncture cannot reverse this process it is highly effective for controlling the resulting pain and slowing joint deterioration. Acupuncture also helps to return a full range of motion to joints that have become restricted due to pain and disuse. Initially, most sufferers must receive weekly acupuncture treatments for two to three months. During this time the pain slowly diminishes until it is eliminated. After that initial period the goal is to maintain this pain free state. The long-term treatment plan really depends on the individual patient. The patient and the acupuncturist must work together in order to determine what is going to be most effective for that individual. Some people come in once a month; others, who only experience arthritis pain with cold and wet weather can receive a few treatments in late fall or winter.

A great study on acupuncture and joint pain was published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism. This was the largest and best designed study on acupuncture to date and has generated a lot of buzz in the arthritis community. The study looked at the use of acupuncture in conjunction with traditional medical treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. The authors found that acupuncture was highly effective at controlling arthritis pain. They concluded that it could completely replace the use of pain relievers in relatively mild cases of arthritis. This suggests that it would also be a great treatment in more severe cases that are not adequately controlled with western medicine.

Chinese herbal medicine is also quite effective in the treatment of arthritis. We have a very long tradition of treating pain with herbs, and it has been refined over thousands of years. Many Chinese herbs have been shown to have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. These herbs can be taken either as pills or as a tea and are usually taken twice a day. The treatment plan with Chinese herbs is much the same as that for acupuncture, and when the two are combined it can decrease the amount of time required to obtain relief.

One of the advantages of the Chinese medical approach is that we do not treat every case of arthritis the same. We have several different diagnoses for osteoarthritis and minor variations on those based upon everyone’s unique symptoms. We tailor each treatment to the needs of the individual and treat the underlying causes of arthritis not just the pain.

With the aging of the baby-boomer generation osteoarthritis is set to become a much more common ailment. We are living longer and remaining active later in life. The demand for the treatment of arthritis pain is only going to increase. The spread of Chinese medicine is a great opportunity for people to obtain relief. Find a qualified acupuncturist and get back to the life you want and deserve.