Repetitive Stress Injury Relief with Acupuncture

Qi Mail™ The Acupuncture Newsletter February 2013

Julee Miller AP, DOM, BS, LMT Health Pointe Jacksonville, LLC 3840 Belfort Road, Suite 305 Jacksonville, FL 32216 904-448-0046/www.hpjax.com

Get Relief from Repetitive Stress Injuries with Acupuncture Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) are the most common job-related injuries and are responsible for the highest number of days lost among all work related injuries. One of the most well-known types of repetitive stress injury, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) accounts for over two million visits to physicians' offices and approximately 465,000 carpal tunnel release operations each year, making it the most frequent surgery of the hand and wrist. Symptoms of repetitive stress injuries include tightness, stiffness, pain, tingling, numbness, coldness and loss of strength in the arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury that refers specifically to the inflammation of a specific ligament that puts pressure on the median nerve. Acupuncture is extremely effective for treating repetitive stress injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome; eliminating the need for surgery or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. In fact, one of the most common reasons that people get acupuncture is for repetitive stress injuries. Recent studies even suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than corticosteroids when it comes to treating CTS. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist made up of ligaments and bones. The median nerve and the tendons that connect the fingers to the muscles of the forearm pass through this tightly spaced tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve entrapment, occurs when swelling or irritation of the tendons in the carpal tunnel results in pressure on the median nerve causing pain in the palm side of the wrist and pain and tingling in the fingers. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. Symptoms usually start gradually, with frequent burning, tingling, or numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, especially the index, middle and ring fingers. Pain can sometimes travel up the arm and affect the shoulder. The symptoms often first appear during the night. As symptoms worsen, people might feel pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. If not properly treated, CTS can cause irreversible nerve damage and permanent deterioration of muscle tissue. Diagnosis and Treatment of Repetitive Stress Injuries with Acupuncture From an Oriental medicine perspective, a repetitive stress injury is seen as a disruption of the flow of Qi and Blood (Xue) within the area and associated with cold, dampness or wind penetrating the muscles and sinews. Acupuncture points, stretching exercises, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are chosen to treat accordingly. In addition to reducing the swelling, inflammation and pain, acupuncture addresses any headaches, neck pain, shoulder stiffness and sleeping problems that often accompany this condition. Your treatment may also take into account any underlying conditions that contribute to the development of RSI including posture, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems, diabetes, and hormonal changes of pregnancy and menopause. If you or someone you know suffers from a repetitive stress injury, please call to find out more about how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help you. Acupuncture Effective in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome According to a randomized, controlled study published in the May 2009 issue of the Clinical Journal of Pain, acupuncture is as effective as the corticosteroid, prednisone, for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The study investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with steroid treatment in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome as measured by both nerve conduction studies and symptom assessment surveys. One group received eight acupuncture treatments over four weeks, and the other group received daily oral doses of prednisone for four weeks. Results showed that acupuncture was just as effective as the corticosteroid for pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. For the symptoms of night time awakening and motor function, the acupuncture group had better results. Researchers concluded that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment option for CTS for those who experience side effects to oral steroids or for those who do not wish to undergo surgery.   In This Issue Get Relief from Repetitive Stress Injuries with Acupuncture Acupuncture Effective in Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Reduce Your Repetitive Stress Injury Risk Reduce Your Repetitive Stress Injury Risk Managing repetitive stress injuries often requires some lifestyle changes, and it can take time to work out a strategy that works best for you. Here are a few minor changes you can implement to minimize stress on your hands and wrists: Alternate Tasks - Avoid doing the same task for more than a couple of hours at a time and alternate between tasks that use different muscle groups where possible. Fatigue is a sign that you need to take a break. Take small breaks to gently stretch and bend your hands and wrists and readjust your position. Reduce Pressure - Many people use more force than needed to perform tasks involving their hands, which can increase pressure and cause irritation. Be mindful of the speed and amount of pressure used to perform tasks. Ease up, slow down, and grip using your palm or whole hand to distribute the load. If using tools such as riveters or jackhammers for extended periods, take frequent breaks or operate the tool at a speed that causes the least amount of vibration. Cultivate Good Posture - Incorrect posture can cause your shoulders to roll forward, shortening neck and shoulder muscles and compressing nerves in your neck, which can affect your wrists, hands, and fingers. Shoulders and neck should be relaxed to open the chest and allow your head to float upwards without strain. When using a keyboard, wrists should be in a relaxed middle position and in a straight line with your forearms at elbow height or slightly lower.

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Healthy Points-Demystifying Acupuncture

Healthy Points- Demystifying Acupuncture

Julee Miller, AP, DOM, BS, LMT

Acupuncture Physician, Diplomat of Oriental Medicine

Owner of Health Pointe Jacksonville/ www.hpjax.com

Ever wonder how many people are utilizing avenues of healing that are outside the realm of “conventional medicine”? As it turns out, that number is rapidly increasing here in the United States, as more and more people discover the benefits of using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including acupuncture, massage and chiropractic. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of NIh, in 2007 10% of Americans reportedly have tried acupuncture to relieve discomfort caused by fibromyalgia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, low back pain, and other ailments. That’s roughly 30 million people! In a nation where more people are turning to these therapies each year, such services are becoming more pervasive no matter where you live. And given the popularity rise in Acupuncture over the last 10 years, more and more health insurance plans actually accept and reimburse for this treatment.

So what exactly is acupuncture?  Very basically, it is the insertion of very fine needles on the body's surface, in order to influence physiological functioning of the body. The purpose of these needles is to stimulate specific acupuncture points to promote self healing of imbalanced, or unhealthy, areas.
The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system. “Some of the most interesting research on acupuncture is how it might impact brain functioning," said Richard Nahin, acting director for research at NCCAM. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) observations during acupuncture have shown specific areas of the brain that respond to the treatment. Once a needle is inserted into the skin it basically communicates with the central nervous system (the brain) to effectively speed up the healing process or slow down certain chemical reactions by blocking certain neurotransmitters.
This is also how acupuncture can treat such a wide variety of ailments including: chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, postoperative dental pain, addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, infertility, and asthma. For example, when a person experiences an injury the body responds with a very specific and deliberate cellular response to clean up the injured tissue, repair it and return the injured tissue back to it’s healthy state. By adding acupuncture this very natural bodily response is magnified and accelerated by 70%. So the person heals that much quicker. All without medications that only mask the pain sensation and even possibly surgery.
Acupuncture may also have an effect on the body's stress response system, otherwise known as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which could be why acupuncture patients report lower stress levels and anxiety after treatment.  A side benefit of acupuncture is the release of endorphins, the body's famed "feel good" chemicals that quell pain patterns. Endorphins have the knack for acting like morphine on the body and brain.
According to the Mayo Clinic “When performed properly by trained practitioners, acupuncture has proved to be an effective therapy for back pain. Several studies have found that acupuncture can help reduce chronic back pain and improve daily function.”
Very, very important: when performed PROPERLY by TRAINED practitioners.  Why do I emphasize this? Very simply: acupuncture is not a pill but a procedure.  It’s not just sticking a needle in, but the practitioner skill level is vital in the selection of acupoints and proper manipulation depending on the patient’s particular condition. Not all acupuncturists are the same, so be ware. Some states (Florida included) will allow other practitioners to “practice” acupuncture with very little course work and allow them to call themselves “acupuncture specialists”. They are not. While they may have been taught how to insert a needle, they simply do not understand Chinese Medicine and it’s application to help you fully reach your end goal. Interestingly, acupuncture is only one part of Traditional Chinese Medicine which also includes herbal medicine, nutrition, electrical stimulation, moxibustion, cupping, massage techniques, gua sha, and herbal patching.
It’s not only Chinese Medicine that I practice in my clinic. With a background in Athletic Training and Sports Rehab I am able to understand the kinesiology behind pain syndromes and instruct proper stretching and exercises to further reduce the pain and strengthen the area. I also give food therapy instruction on healthier eating patterns to further reduce discomforts and improve overall health.   That’s part of the process here.  A Typical treatment lasts between 30 minutes to 45 minutes.  The initial treatment is longer and consists of an evaluation including a detailed medical history, range of motion and strength tests as needed and differential diagnostics.In Chinese Medicine this include taking your pulse and looking at your tongue, observing facial and eye components of color/palor/reactions and postural analysis. The evaluation is commonly followed immediately by the initial treatment and completed with general prognosis, herbal medicine prescription, nutritional suggestions and exercises.
I think some people are afraid of needles and that’s understandable. But in my experience the fear is based on past experiences with medical hypodermic needles, vaccinations and the presumption that acupuncture is an injection of sorts. It is not. Acupuncture needles are made of extremely thin, solid, flexible, surgical stainless steel, hair-fine filaments. The insertion of the acupuncture needle is usually painless.  Occasionally a slight sensation may be felt upon entry.  Once the needles are in place, the individual should not be aware of any discomfort, but instead they may feel warmth or other mild sensations at the needle site. A common side effect is bruising of some points. If this happens, it is short term with no lasting effects. Most people enjoy acupuncture and find it very relaxing.  Often people are surprised at how comfortable they become during a treatment.  They may even fall asleep. And anyone can receive acupuncture. From infants to geriatrics.
If you haven’t tried this time tested form of health care- it’s time you did!