Acupuncture and long term pain: what it is and what it is not
Long term pain changes the way you move, sleep and work. Many people who come to us have already tried a lot. In this article I explain how I look at persistent pain, what acupuncture can mean in practice and which expectations are realistic.
Pain that stays
Pain is first of all a signal. When complaints last longer, that signal sometimes stays active while the original injury has already healed. Muscles and fascia adapt, you start moving differently and the load shifts to other parts of the body. Because of this, the place where you feel pain can differ from the place where the complaint arises.
What I do during a treatment
A first appointment starts with a conversation and a physical examination: where the pain is, when it started, what makes it better or worse and which movements are limited. After that I treat with acupuncture, focused on the muscles and connective tissue around the complaint. Where useful, I combine this with advice about posture and load.
What you can realistically expect
- Responses differ per person. Some people notice a difference after one or two treatments, others need more time and for some people little changes.
- Acupuncture is not a replacement for medical care. With persistent, unexplained or severe complaints, examination by your GP or specialist matters.
- I give no guarantees about results and promise no cure. After a few treatments I will tell you honestly whether continuing seems useful.
- Acupuncture can have side effects, such as short term tenderness, tiredness or a small bruise at the needle site.
Who treats you
I am Zohar Steg, acupuncturist, and I treat in Amsterdam and Nijmegen myself. Shani provides part of the massage treatments. So you know in advance who you will meet.
Not sure whether this suits you?
Feel free to ask your question before you book. I would rather tell you in advance that I cannot treat something than have you come back without reason.