Over 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain like headaches, migraines, neck pain, and back pain. Pain, especially chronic pain, can greatly reduce your quality of life. It can reduce or restrict your mobility, which in turn can create other types of problems, such as low mood, mental health issues, and sleep disturbances just to name a few.
It’s understandable that when pain strikes, we want to eliminate it as soon as possible so that we can get back to normal life. Many turn to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen for relief. In fact, it’s estimated that over 30 billion doses of NSAIDs are taken in a given year.
NSAIDs often provide quick relief, but regular use is proving more and more problematic. Side effects of chronic use of these medications can include stomach pain, nausea, and increased risk of heart attack and kidney disease.
NSAIDs also don’t treat what is causing your pain. They simply turn off your body’s pain receptors so you are comfortable. When the effects of the drug wears off, you will likely feel pain again if you do not go straight to the source.
Acupuncture can provide a drug-free approach to pain maintenance. It can relax you and stimulate endorphins, the body’s natural “feel good” pain relievers. It can decrease inflammation to help repair tissue damage. It stimulates healthy blood flow and circulation, which is especially helpful for headaches and migraines. It can also reduce stress, which can often be the cause of whatever is hurting you.
You don’t always need a synthetic chemical to heal yourself. Don’t endure nasty side effects in the name of pain relief. Give acupuncture a try before you pop that next pill. Come for a consultation by making an appointment with Dr. Pailin at 917.620.9819. Get your body started on healing itself!