Why do I need pain management?
Acute pain appears suddenly in response to an injury or illness and usually goes away as the problem heals. However, without treatment, acute pain can turn into chronic pain.
By definition, chronic pain lasts longer than 3-6 months or persists long after the injury heals. This type of pain seldom responds well to medications.
When you need relief from pain, you need the effective alternatives offered by Dr. Travall: acupuncture and dry needling.
What is the role of acupuncture in pain management?
Traditional acupuncture is proven to significantly relieve pain. Dr. Travall improves on the success of traditional Chinese acupuncture by combining it with a Western orthopedic and sports medicine framework that focuses on motor points.
Motor points are based on nerve and muscle connections. Using motor points as well as traditional acupuncture points to determine needle placement allows Dr. Travall to customize your treatment and give you optimum pain relief.
Inserting acupuncture needles stimulates the release of biochemicals and triggers healing responses in the surrounding tissues. Acupuncture relieves your pain by:
- Triggering the release of endorphins
- Reducing inflammation
- Promoting tissue repair
- Balancing the nervous system
- Relaxing muscles
- Increasing circulation
Endorphins activate the same pain-relieving receptors as opioids, making them your body’s natural painkillers.
What is the role of dry needling in pain management?
During dry needling, Dr. Travall uses acupuncture needles to treat tight, knotted muscles called trigger points. Trigger points develop when a small area of the muscle contracts but doesn’t relax. The ongoing contraction also pinches nerves and blood vessels.
Inserting a needle into the trigger point relaxes the muscles, restores blood flow, and allows nerves to work again. Like acupuncture, dry needling also reduces inflammation and causes the release of endorphins.
What pain conditions improve with acupuncture?
Before treating your pain, Dr. Travall completes a thorough physical assessment, including range-of-motion and muscle testing. Then he determines the appropriate acupuncture and motor points for relieving your pain.
Acupuncture treats a wide range of pain conditions, from body-wide pain syndromes like fibromyalgia to injuries and conditions responsible for acute and chronic pain.
Dr. Travall specializes in treating neck, back, and joint pain, which often arise from conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Herniated discs
- Back sprains
- Tennis elbow
- Runner’s knee
- Meniscus injuries
- Ligament sprains
If you need effective pain management, call Dr. Travall’s Acupuncture or book an appointment online today.
