Attacking Pain Via Acupuncture
I
t may be hard to believe that the shal-
low insertion of very thin needles at
selected points would actually reduce
or eliminate pain. How could this be?
The good news is, not only does acu-
puncture relieve pain, but also is a healing
modality, oftentimes healing injuries and
eliminating pain associated with them.
According to Dr. Bruce Pomeranz of the
University of Toronto, "Acupuncture stimu-
lates peripheral nerves that send messages
to the brain to release endorphins (mor-
phine-like compounds); these endorphins
block pain pathways in the brain."
Along with the release of endorphins,
another substance called cortisol is simul-
taneously released. Cortisol is the body's
own natural anti-inflammatory drug.
Controlling pain and reducing inflamma-
tion helps to promote healing; this seems to
explain why acupuncture works so well for
joint and structural disorders.
Inflammation is the means by which
the body responds to invasion and injury.
Acupuncture works subtly to promote
our bodies' own ability to heal and reduce
inflammation. Often, patients
notice a significant decrease in
pain within 3 4 treatments.
Acupuncture and traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) offer
a whole body approach to treat-
ing pain. Much like a tree, TCM
looks at both the branches of the
tree (the symptoms) and the root
(underlying conditions that effect
healing). Each person is unique.
By addressing the symptoms
as well as underlying conditions,
TCM promotes whole body heal-
ing. As an example, if someone has low
back pain, TCM also reviews the various
body systems in order to fully understand
what may impede maximum healing. If
someone has poor digestive health, is not
sleeping and no energy, the likelihood of the
-
pain getting better is reduced.
TCM also takes into consideration the
elements of wind, cold, damp and heat. How
do they affect the body? Does
the pain move? Does heat make
the pain better? Ice? Each treat-
ment plan is customized based
upon the specifics uncovered
during the evaluation.
Commonly asked questions:
Does acupuncture hurt?
No. At insertion, the patient
may feel some heaviness, tin-
gling, a slight pinch or sensa-
tion. After insertion, the patient
often feels very relaxed and
even falls asleep.
Are the needles sterile? Yes, all the
needles are used only one time.
How deep do the needles go? Needle
insertion is very shallow. Insertion varies
according to the nature of the problem, the
location on the body, and the patient's size,
age and constitution.
Acupuncture can assist with reducing
pain and inflammation in association with:
• Musculoskeletal injuries;
•Acute and chronic neck and back pain,
including disc bulges, disc hernias, whip-
lash trauma, muscle strains and ligament
sprains;
• Joint pain;
• Injuries from golf, tennis, racquetball
and other sports;
• Repetitive use injuries, i.e. carpal tunnel
syndrome, tight hip flexor muscles.
❑
Julie Silver, MSW, Dip!. Ac. is a NCCAOM
(National Certification Commission for
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) board certi-
fied acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture
Healthcare Associates of Michigan, Inc., a holis-
tic health clinic in West Bloomfield featuring
acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and
naturopathic medicine. Her e-mail address is
acuhealer® sbcglobal.net .
ASK THE DOCTOR
New Options Available To Treat Spinal Fractures From Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, in which bones become fragile and easily broken, causes over 700,000 spinal fractures annually
in the U.S.—more fractures than in the hip and wrist combined. Approximately two-thirds of all spinal fractures go
undiagnosed or untreated due to the absence of symptoms or difficulty determining the cause of symptoms, leading some
to call osteoporosis a "silent disease."
Since 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men older than 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their
lifetime and bone loss can begin as early as 30, now is the time to take a closer look at osteoporosis and new options
for treating fractures caused by osteoporosis. Through proper diagnosis and treatment, patients with spinal fractures
can significantly improve their ability to perform normal activities of daily living and enjoy an overall improvement in their
quality of life.
Dr. Louis Radden, Reconstructive Spine Surgeon with Spine Specialists of Michigan, offers
some answers.
How common is osteoporosis and to
what might it lead?
The National Osteoporosis Foundation
cites osteoporosis as a major public health
threat affecting 44 million Americans.
While a calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing
exercise and the avoidance of smoking
and excessive alcohol can help prevent
bone mass loss, osteoporosis ranks
second only to cardiovascular disease
as a leading healthcare problem according
to the World Health Organization.
With osteoporosis, bones in our spine, hip and wrist deteriorate and become susceptible to fractures. In the spine,
small fractures lead to compression of the vertebral body (called vertebral compression fractures or VCFs). Left
untreated, these VCFs create a curvature of the spine, sometimes referred to as "dowager's hump." Over time, this
curvature can become more pronounced, painful and debilitating.
How do I know if I have osteoporosis?
Bone loss happens without symptoms—it doesn't hurt or cause much trouble at first, though left unchecked it
might cause a lifetime of disability and even hasten death. Talk to your doctor about bone health and taking a
bone density test.
What happens to you if you have a spinal fracture?
After experiencing one fracture, your risk of a second fracture is greatly increased. In addition, just one fracture affects
how weight is distributed through the spine, thus placing higher than normal stress on the front of the spine which
contributes to the risk of future fracture. With additional fractures, it can become progressively difficult to walk, eat,
and sleep due to pain and the unnatural spinal alignment. See a doctor to determine your condition and appropriate
treatment, as there may be different explanations for why you are experiencing back pain.
What options are there if I have a spinal fracture?
Traditional treatments for spinal fractures include extended bed rest, pain medication and back braces, all of which
can relieve pain but do not address the deformity caused by the fracture. Open surgery is also an option, but it is more
invasive than non-surgical management and is typically reserved for patients with neurological complications. Balloon
Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, is designed to treat the fracture and restore the vertebra to the correct
position. Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to significantly reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and
improve quality of life.
How is Balloon Kyphoplasty performed?
Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure performed by a spine specialist. It can be performed using
either a local or general anesthesia. It typically takes about one half hour to treat each fracture and may require an
overnight hospital stay.
Does insurance cover Balloon Kyphoplasty?
In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for kyphoplasty. Other insurance may also provide coverage. Check with
your insurance carrier or doctor to find out about coverage.
What can Balloon Kyphoplasty do for me if I have a spinal fracture?
If you have a spinal fracture, Balloon Kyphoplasty can restore vertebral body height, significantly reduce back pain and
increase mobility, often shortly after the procedure. In addition to pain reduction, patients experience an increased
ability to return to such simple, everyday activities as walking, reaching, bending and lifting. Patients also report
improved mental health, vitality, social function and emotional health.
Are there risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty?
Although the complication rate with Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical
procedures, there are risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including serious complications. Complications can
include myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular accident (stroke), pulmonary embolism (bone cement
leakage migrates to the lungs), cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) or nerve or spinal cord injury that may cause pain,
weakness or paralysis.
6621 W. Maple Rd.
14555 Levan Rd. Suite 116
30055 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 270
SPINE SPECIALISTS OF MICHIGAN P.C.
West Bloomfield
Livonia
Farmington Hills
248-661-4700
734-464-0400
248-865-4262
Dr. Louis Na Radden
RECONSTRUCTIVE SPINE SURGERY
May 29 2008
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