Acupuncture free essay sample

Acupuncture Miranda Trick Itasca Community College Abstract: The topic for this paper is acupuncture and its use for post operative pain management. The different types, ways used, benefits, and risks will all be discussed. Acupuncture has been around since basically the beginning of time, but was first documented In first few hundred years, and was primarily used in China (Lens, 2012). According to Lens (2012), Acupuncture can be used for pain and control of other symptoms In palliative care, such as nausea and vomiting (p. 16). Acupuncture to read pain can be beneficial to patients who dont respond well to narcotic analgesia agents. Keywords: Acupuncture, pain management something different for someone else. Acupuncture has been used for centuries to help relieve general pain, but also post operative pain (Lens, 2012). Acupuncture is a collection of procedures which involves the stimulation of points on the body using a variety of techniques, such as penetrating the skin with needles, and is one of the oldest healing practices in the world (Mayo Clinic, 2012). According to the Mayo Clinic 2012), stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of IQ (chi) through channels known as meridians. This is what the basis of acupuncture is. The theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that bodily functions are regulated by an energy called IQ which flows through the body; disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Plainly acupuncture is usually small very thin metal needles placed on or under the skin, which then are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation. By inserting addles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue, this stimulation appears to boost the activity of your bodys natural painkillers and increase blood flow (Mayo Clinic, 2012). No one person knows quite how acupuncture works, but many believe that its not only one factor, but that many reactions going on at once involving different systems; including the central nervous system, that allows acupuncture to have such wide, strong and lasting effects (Lens, 2012). There are a few reasons why patients and or practitioners may seek out acupuncture as treatment. Acupuncture is seen as less invasive as other treatments therefore it is sometimes used as an adjunct for pain management. It is also viewed as a last resort treatment modality. It is said and proved through research and trials to be effective for postoperative pain (Osprey, 2012). After your practitioner determines which type of acupuncture is right for that certain individual, they will go o their practitioner and they will find the different acupuncture points in the body, which may be far removed from the location of the pain (Osprey, 2012). After finding these points the needles will be inserted, and they are thin, so it usually doesnt cause much discomfort. After this your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles to get them to the desired location (Mayo Clinic, 2012). According to the Mayo Clinic (2012), Treatment usually lasts 10-20 minutes while you lie still and relax; there is usually no sensation or discomfort when the needles are removed. The benefits f acupuncture can be slightly hard to measure, but patient feedback is important. Female suffered from a ruptured left patellar tendon, which was reattached surgically (Cooper, 2011). A month after surgery her ROOM was slow, and suffered from stiffness and pain. Treatment was given using acupuncture, electro acupuncture, and infra- red heat emitting. Treatment consisted of local and distal needling, with stimulation of the local points (Cooper, 2011). With this patient pain was reported on 9/10 pain scale and reported as severe. According to Cooper (201 1), the pain, stiffness, and lack f sensation could be caused by Bi syndrome, IQ and blood stagnation in the channels; these could be as a result from adhesions formed during surgery, or the manipulation of the leg after surgery. Over the course of five treatments, the patient experienced continuous improvement of range of motion and decrease of pain. Most of the improvement was seen during the first four treatments that occurred over a two week period (Cooper, 2011). This specific patient dealt with recovery and postindustrial pain for over a month before commencing treatment, and tit treatment she had near complete recovery in two weeks, and complete recovery in range of motion and pain in one month. According to Cooper (201 1), This would seem to indicate that there is a good potential for treating certain types of postindustrial pain with acupuncture and/or ultracentrifuge. The patients rapid improvement may be due to the direct needling in the sore occupants which could have led to a breaking up of adhesions, therefore, loosening the muscles creating better flexing (Cooper, 2011). Another study conducted talked about acupuncture used in hospices for palliative care. The study went over whether or not it would be beneficial and if people were receptive to treatment (Lens, 2012). According to Lens (2012), the common reason for acupuncture not being available was lack of a suitable practitioner. Most respondents said they think they could benefit from acupuncture used in pain and palliative care. There are risks associated with everything and acupuncture is no different. Some of the potential risks are soreness, organ injury, or infection, and according to the Mayo Clinic (2012), Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture, and notations that may increase risk of complication are bleeding disorders, having a pacemaker, or being pregnant. These side effects or risks are pretty slim as acupuncture has low risk of side effects. As with risks there are also benefits and acupuncture may be effective as a treatment for post-surgical pain (Cooper, 2011). In conclusion, acupuncture isnt for everyone. You can go to your doctor and receive more information or a referral to a professional in that field. It can be used as a last chance for relieving pain, but is also beneficial to patients who dont respond well to narcotics. Acupuncture has few side effects, so it is definitely worth trying as an option to cure postoperative pain.