Telephone:   585-346-6680          Fax:   585-346-3698             5995 Big Tree Road, Suite K   Lakeville, New York 14480

Telephone:   585-346-6680          Fax:   585-346-3698             5995 Big Tree Road, Suite K   Lakeville, New York 14480

Osteoarthritis and Acupuncture By Douglas McDaniel, L.Ac. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis affecting approximately 21 million Americans. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in the joints wears down over time. It can affect any joint in the body, though it most commonly affects joints in the hands, hips, knees and spine. Osteoarthritis typically affects just one joint, though in some cases, such as with finger arthritis, several joints can be affected. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include: joint pain during or after use, or after a period of inactivity, joint tenderness when light pressure is applied, joint stiffness worse upon waking or after a period of inactivity, loss of flexibility in the affect joint, a grating sensation when you use the joint, bone spurs around the affected joint, and swelling in some cases. There is no clear cause of osteoarthritis. Researchers suspect that it's a combination of factors, including being overweight, the aging process, joint injury or stress, heredity, and muscle weakness. Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time and can be quite debilitating. No cure exists. However, treatment for osteoarthritis can relieve pain and help you remain active. Actively managing your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain. While there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, there are a wide variety of treatment options that help to reduce pain and maintain joint movement allowing you to continue with your daily tasks. Treatment options vary from surgery and medication to alternative and complementary therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition, massage and tai chi or yoga.  Lifestyle adjustments and less aggressive therapies should be tried first. Often a combination approach of traditional and non-traditional therapies works best. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can play an important role in coping with the pain, stiffness and loss of mobility associated with osteoarthritis. Chinese medicine views osteoarthritis as a bi-syndrome. Bi or obstruction syndromes are characterized by pain, soreness, numbness, heaviness of the muscles and joints, and limitation of movement. Bi-syndromes are precipitated by an invasion of exogenous factors: wind, cold, damp or heat into the channels and collaterals of the body reducing the flow of qi (vital energy) and blood to the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. Initially there will be an acute onset of pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. If the pathogens are properly expelled from the body the symptoms will disappear and no long lasting effects will be felt. What often happens is that the body is too weak in relation to the pathogen and it cannot properly expel the pathogen causing it to linger in the body and become lodged in the channels, collaterals, muscles and joints. This causes a more chronic condition of pain that never goes away and flairs with changes in the weather, certain activities or after periods of prolonged inactivity. Because the channels and collaterals are blocked the flow of qi and blood are diminished and the joints become undernourished causing them to degenerate. As a result, the undernourished, degenerating joints are more susceptible to pathogenic factors, which causes further blockage, which causes further undernourishment and subsequent degeneration. All the while causing an increase in pain, stiffness and limited movement. This is where acupuncture can play an important role in the reduction of pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. During acupuncture treatment very thin needles are inserted into areas pertaining to the pain. These needles unblock the flow of qi and blood to the affected area, essentially moving away the stagnation that is causing the pain and restoring the normal flow of qi and blood to the area. As a result, the pain lessens; joint become less stiff and moving becomes easier. Repeated treatments help to keep the channels and collaterals open and the qi and blood free flowing. Over time the duration, quality and intensity of the pain lessens, joints are better nourished slowing down the degenerative process, and the osteoarthritis sufferer experiences an overall sense of increased vitality and well being allowing them to engage in their daily activities with less discomfort. Recent studies have shown that 8-12 acupuncture treatments administered on a weekly basis have resulted in significant pain reduction that has lasted for 6 months or more. As with any therapeutic intervention the sooner treatment begins the better the result. Other alternative or complementary therapies that may help reduce and manage osteoarthritis pain include: massage, yoga, tai chi, reiki, meditation, hypnosis and nutritional supplementation. Here are 10 tips to help reduce and manage chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis: 1.Keep a positive attitude 2.Know your limits - rest when you are tired 3.Eat a healthy diet/Lose weight 4.Exercise - get regular, gentle exercise 5.Maintain good posture 6.Choose appropriate footwear 7.Practice relaxation techniques 8.Take a chronic pain class 9.Apply heat and topical pain creams 10.Take your medications as recommended