{"id":2828,"date":"2016-01-20T13:36:15","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T18:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tambulimedia.com\/?p=2828"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:02:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T19:02:33","slug":"acupuncture-beats-nsaids-for-arthritis-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tambulimedia.com\/acupuncture-beats-nsaids-for-arthritis-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Acupuncture Beats NSAIDs for Arthritis Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Osteoarthritis is one of the painful conditions we face as we age. It is the most common form of arthritis and is marked by degeneration of the joints and surrounding tissues through years of wear and tear from too much or too strenuous physical movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acupuncture is one of the world\u2019s oldest healing modalities with thousands of years and millions of cases of success. Yet even today, 45 some years after being formally introduced to the United States, it is often seen as \u201calternative\u201d and \u201cplacebo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re on pins and needles to find out if it really works, I\u2019ve got good news for you\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Research is finding more and more evidence of its success in clinical trials, like this one that finds acupuncture to be the most successful treatment for pain and range of motion among patients with osteoarthritis. If you click to read more<\/a>, you can know more about it from experts. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NSAIDs spell trouble<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most common form of pain relief for osteoarthritis (OA) is NSAIDS which is offered by medical professionals from QC Kinetix FL<\/a>. These are the common over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

These include aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin, and Excedrin), ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin IB), and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Another common pain reliever in a different class is acetaminophen (Tylenol). These drugs help relieve pain and reduce inflammation by blocking the enzymes in the body that help make the chemicals responsible for the body feeling pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the side effects of taking NSAIDs ling term range from annoying and unpleasant, to scary and harmful.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most commonly reported side effects include stomach upset, pain and nausea, heartburn and diarrhea. More serious side effects, though less common, include elevated blood pressure, stomach ulcer, and allergic reactions like hives, asthma, and swelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic NSAID use can also cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloody stools, and toxic liver and kidney. What\u2019s more, if you are taking medication for high blood pressure, NSAIDs are not recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n

While I am not saying one must avoid NSAIDs at all costs, I am suggesting that they be limited to occasional use. They are definitely not recommended for the kind of long-term, continuous-use pain management that you would need when dealing with osteoarthritis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acupuncture relief<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Acupuncture\"<\/a>Acupuncture is gaining in popularity. As a result more studies are being carried out on acupuncture versus sham acupuncture (placebo) and drug therapy. The results show a positive effect that is safe and has few serious side effects. Acupuncture works by opening \u201cenergy channels\u201d in the body that are clogged, or stimulating the movement of intrinsic energy (qi) in the body through those channels. Science is finding that insertion of needles into the specific acupuncture points triggers a response in the brain that alters chemicals in the body, and pain receptivity in nerves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meta-analysis of Acupuncture for OA<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

A new meta-analysis on the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of symptoms associated with OA was published in BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine<\/em><\/a>. The objective of the study was to \u201cidentify and synthesize data from prospective randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture to sham acupuncture, usual care, or no treatment, in adults diagnosed with osteoarthritis.\u201d To do this, reviewers identified the randomized controlled trials appearing online in electronic journal sources that include PubMed\/Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. They identified the 12 trials that included more than 1,700 participants, assessed risk of bias, and removed those findings to determine their own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what they found:<\/span><\/p>\n