Month: August 2020

Acupuncture is a safe, effective, and natural way of providing chronic pain relief. Although it has been used for centuries, it is only recently when a study at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center confirmed that it is indeed safe and effective. In this study, raw data from previous studies were evaluated to correct any problems regarding methodology. The study required the participation of more than 18,000 subjects. It was completed after 5 years and the results confirmed the efficacy of the treatment. It was concluded that acupuncture is effective in treating arthritis, back pain, and migraines.

How many people use acupuncture?

Way back 2007, National Health Interview Survey showed that more than 3 million American adults have tried acupuncture and the numbers are growing each year. The increasing number of people that use acupuncture as a form of pain relief is, in itself, proof that acupuncture is indeed effective.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves the use of small sterile needles that are inserted in specific sites in your body called acupuncture points. The needles are designed to manipulate the flow of energy called Qi. In TCM, Qi flows along 14 invisible channels known as meridians. If a person is sick, unwell, or in pain, it is believed that the flow of energy has been blocked. Acupuncture aims to unblock stagnant meridians so that energy can freely flow. As a result, the person experiences health restoration and relief from pain.

What To Expect During A Visit?

Before the treatment is performed, your acupuncturist will first discuss with you your health. You’ll be asked about your health history, what type of medications you’ve taken or currently taking, what complaints you have etc. and based on your condition, your acupuncturist will carefully insert the needles in different parts of your body to control the Qi. Typically, one treatment will last for 20 minutes on average. Most patients say they feel relaxed or energized after the treatment.

Are There Studies Proving Acupuncture Relieves Pain?

Researchers found that the benefits of acupuncture in providing pain relief persisted for a long period of time, which means it’s a treatment that not only provides short-term relief. The trials for acupuncture were deemed eligible since the patients qualified for the following criteria:

•Experienced 1 out of 4 chronic pain conditions (osteoarthritis, chronic headache, shoulder pain, neck or back pain)

•Pain as a result of musculoskeletal disorders that lasted at least a month

•One patient group in each trial received acupuncture while the other sham acupuncture

•The result was evaluated and measured at least a month after the first acupuncture session

The end of the trial revealed that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for individuals who suffer from chronic pain.

Should I be afraid of painful needles?

The good news is that acupuncture needles will not cause any pain. However, you will feel a minimal dull ache while the Qi is being controlled.

When will I experience results?

The number of treatments you’ll need will vary depending on the severity or intensity of the pain. However, the majority of acupuncturists recommend several sessions before they get to see results.

What else can acupuncture do?

Aside from treating chronic pain, acupuncture is effective in treating biliary colic, allergic rhinitis, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, facial pain, hypertension, headache, depression, knee pain, low back pain, leukopenia, neck pain, nausea and vomiting, morning sickness, stroke, sciatic and many more.

Takeaway

Chronic pain can be debilitating both physically and mentally. Thankfully, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners are offering a unique way of healing in the form of acupuncture. With long-term benefits and zero side effects, acupuncture is indeed a reliable treatment for pain. For a successful outcome, make sure you find a licensed acupuncturist who has the experience, training, and skills in performing the treatment.

Arthritis is a term used to describe painful and inflamed joints. The inflammation can occur in a single joint or it can affect several joints. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis but the most common of all are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This condition affects both men and women but it’s more common in women. Studies also suggest that arthritis targets overweight and obese individuals. Aside from pain, joint inflammation also leads to a decrease in your range of motion. Redness is also evident on the skin surrounding the joint. The symptoms are more pronounced in the morning.

To better understand the nature of this condition let us first learn what a cartilage is. A cartilage is a connective tissue that protects your joints from the shock and pressure they receive when you move. When the amount of cartilage is reduced it can result to arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is normally caused by wear and tear. Injury or joint infection can aggravate cartilage breakdown. If anyone in your family has osteoarthritis, your risk is higher. Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of arthritis and is considered an autoimmune disorder. Your body will attack its own tissues including the synovium, which is a soft tissue found in your joints. This tissue is responsible for producing fluid that lubricates your joints and nourishes your cartilage.

If you have been experiencing pain in your joints we recommend you see a chiropractor. Although chiropractors are known for treating back and neck pain through spine manipulation, quite surprisingly, relief from arthritis is also an added benefit. Through the use of force, your chiropractor can correct misaligned joints. The techniques used will also enhance the relationship between your nervous system and your spine. Again, even though the procedure is focused on your spine it will positively impact all the organs of your body.

According to surveys, more than 60% of the American population believes that chiropractic treatment is safe and effective in treating arthritis. Here’s what you can expect from a chiropractic session.

What Can You Expect From Your Chiropractor?

Nobody wants to deal with pain. Most people take painkillers whenever they experience moderate to severe pain because these drugs are fast acting. Sadly, taking over-the-counter medications is not a long-term solution to pain. Aside from the fact that it can be addictive, it’s not good for your kidneys and liver. The beauty of chiropractic care is that it is completely drugless. You will not be taking any form of synthetic drug to be pain-free. Chiropractors use their hands to manually adjust your muscles, spine and joints using different degrees of force to address pain.

The force applied will depend on your specific case. It’s safe to say chiropractic care is highly personalized. You will be examined and interviewed and based on your results and answers your chiropractor will adjust the force applied. Gentle manipulation in your soft tissues will relieve pain and prevent muscle spams. It will also stretch your joints to improve range of motion.

Is It Safe To Use For Patients With Arthritis?

Yes, seeing a chiropractor for joint pain relief is safe and effective even medical doctors recommend it. However, if there is active inflammation or if you have osteoporosis or a fused spine, chiropractic care is discouraged, this is why you need to go through an interview process and evaluation to check if you qualify. The swelling must first be controlled before doing the adjustment. Chiropractic therapy is usually combined with electrotherapy, infrared sauna, ultrasound or low lever laser or otherwise known as cold laser.

Even though your chiropractor will not touch the affected joints, pain will still be relieved since they directly treat the muscles and tissues around it.

What is a typical eye care exam like? People who have had healthy eyesight all of their lives are not sure what to expect when they are scheduled for an appointment with an eye doctor. If you are having vision problems you will be requested to undergo a comprehensive eye exam. Here’s what you need to know.

To check the condition of your eyes you will be asked to take a series of tests and other procedures. These tests vary depending on your chief complaints. Examples of these tests include reading an eye chart and using high-powered lenses to inspect the intricate structures in your eye. A comprehensive eye exam usually takes an hour to complete but this is not conclusive. It will depend on the type of tests you will be asked to take. The following are some of the eye and vision tests included in a typical comprehensive eye exam.

To measure visual acuity, a standard eye chart is used. Health care professionals including optometrists, nurses, ophthalmologists and physicians commonly use an eye chart to check for visual sharpness. This chart is placed at a standard distance from you. You will be asked to identify the symbols printed on the chart. Your eye doctor will instruct you to read the larger symbols first until they get smaller. The smallest symbols you can read correctly will reflect your visual acuity. The most popularly used eye chart today is the Snellen chart but there are also other types like the Jaeger chart, Golovin-Sivtsev table, E chart and Landolt C.

A test that checks your color vision is called a color blindness test. This test is usually done first so that your eye doctor can rule out color blindness. A color blindness test also notifies your eye doctor for other possible problems that may contribute to your color vision issues.

A cover test is another type of eye test that checks your eye alignment. In this test, your eye doctor will instruct you to focus your sight on a tiny object that’s placed right across the room. Your eye doctor will cover your eyes alternately while you focus your gaze on the object. The same rules apply during the second phase of the test the only difference is that the object is moved closer to you.

An ocular motility test is a test that checks your eye movements. Your doctor will evaluate if your eyes are able to follow a moving object fast and if you are able to fix your gaze on two different targets.

A retinoscopy is also done during the first part of the eye exam so that your eye doctor can get an estimate of your eyeglass prescription. In this test, the room will be dimmed and your eye doctor will instruct you to focus your eyes on a huge letter “E” printed on the eye chart. While you stare at the letter your eye doctor will hold a light and direct it at your eye and then flip lenses in a machine to evaluate the lens powers needed to correct your vision.

Refraction is another test that will help your eye doctor find your eyeglass prescription. In this particular test, a phoropter is placed right in front of your eyes. This tool will show you a sequence of lenses. Your eye doctor will then ask you which of those two lenses will make your vision clearer. Your eyeglass prescription will depend on your answers. This test will also identify the level of your myopia, or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism.

Takeaway

These are just some of the tests you’ll be taking during a comprehensive eye exam. Depending on your eye health, your eye doctor may require more tests to come up with an accurate treatment plan.