Acupuncture as a medical treatment is gaining popularity in the United States. According to a 2007 National Health Interview Survey reported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as many as 3.1 million Americans used acupuncture in 2006, and joint pain was one of the top 10 reasons people sought acupuncture. An ancient Chinese medical treatment, acupuncture involves stimulating specific nerve centers that affect the flow of energy through the body by inserting and removing needles.
Function
Acupuncture seems to affect joint pain in several ways, explains Tim Rhudy, a licensed acupuncturist in the department of pain management at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, in Arthritis Today magazine. By stimulating the nervous system, it helps the body produce pain-killing endorphins and activates the body's natural healing processes. Acupuncture also has a relaxing effect on muscles, which can alleviate pain. Rhudy says acupuncture may also positively affect the part of your brain that experiences pain.
Benefits
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture causes fewer side effects than traditional medications typically prescribed for joint pain, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and injectable steroids. According to Arthritis Today, acupuncture shows promise for treating joint pain caused by both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Time Frame
Acupuncture's benefits are cumulative, so you may need a few sessions before you notice significant pain relief, says Angela Grasso, a licensed acupuncturist and director of clinical services at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Manhattan. It may take up to three sessions for you to notice an improvement in your joint pain.
Considerations
Your confidence in acupuncture's benefits may affect whether or not it helps your joint pain. People who expect acupuncture to reduce their joint pain are more likely to experience relief than people who say they are doubtful about acupuncture's benefits, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Warning
Many insurance companies don't cover acupuncture visits, and visiting an acupuncturist may cost between $30 and $300 per session. Check with your insurance provider before scheduling an appointment with an acupuncturist to find out whether acupuncture is covered by your policy. If the joint pain is a covered condition, find out how many visits are covered per year, recommends James Dowden, executive director of the American Academy of Acupuncture.
