Do you want to know what the best acupuncture treatment for arthritis is?

 Well, any acupuncture actually it is so good to help relieve pain,  but what I wanted to write about is why community acupuncture is the best way to go to treat arthritis.

 The problem with arthritis is that it is pretty persistent. It likes to linger around, you are going to need more then one session.  It is something that you will be dealing with for life, sorry for the let down, so community acupuncture makes this very feasible.

 Let me explain why. 

Arthritis refers to joint pain or joint disease.  There different types of arthritis and it is the leading cause of disability in America.  The symptoms of arthritis include swelling, pain, stiffness, and lack of range of motion.   You also have  different levels of pain, from mild to severe, and the pain can come and go.  Oftentimes it gets worse over time.

There are a few common types of arthritis that we see often at our acupuncture clinic in Denver, that is Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid.,

 Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis.  This is a degenerative disease where cartilage begins to wear away and bone rubs against bone causing pain.  

 Another common type of arthritis we see is Rheumatoid arthritis.  This occurs when the immune system goes awry and causes inflammation in the joints resulting in painful deformity and immobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles.

 Psoriatic arthritis and other type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the skin and joints.

 Gout, another type of arthritis  is a buildup of uric acid crystal in the  joints, usually the big toe or another part of your foot, that causes severe pain.

 Lupus is an autoimmune disease, also a category of arthritis, that can affect the joints and organs in the body.

 Arthritis scan effect any joint of the body, the most common areas affected are the knees, fingers, back, hips, and toes.

 Traditional Chinese Medicine Categories of Arthritis

Chinese medicine has a unique way of seeing arthritis and disease in general.  It has a diverse way of seeing the body and being able to make varied diagnostics depending on the symptoms that are presenting.  

There are 4 types of arthritic pains that are categorized and used to treat arthritis.

The acupuncturist uses the symptoms to understand what type of treatment plan will be needed for the specific type of arthritis that is presenting.

Wind Bi type of arthritis, is when the pain that comes and goes quickly.  It can also move around to different body parts.  It could start at your foot and then be in the knee and then the other foot.  Windy weather can also may the symptoms worse.

Cold bi symptoms present as pain that is very severe, Cold weather makes it worse and the pain is in a fixed area of the body.   This type of arthritis feels better with heat lamps, moxabustion, or other techniques that bring warmth to the joint.

The next one is Damp Bi. The symptoms heaviness and sometimes numbness in the joint. Changes is weather make this type of arthritis worse and there is often swelling. 

Heat Bi is the last one, and this one is characterized by joint pain that feels hot to the touch and the pain is constant.  The joints are red inflamed, and swollen. 

How does acupuncture work to treat arthritis?

Chinese medicine treats arthritis on based that all pain stems from stagnation of qi. Qi is the vital force that exists all around us and also is found in our bodies coursing through the meridian system.  When qi is stuck and not moving, then there is pain in the body. So the healing principle is that we use acupuncture needles along the meridian of the body where there is pain, so we can make the qi flow.   

The scientific explanation is that acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation, amp up the body’s natural pain killers and increase blood flow, which brings healing cells to the effected areas.

 The acupuncturist typically inserts four to 10 needles and leaves them in place for 10 to 30 minutes while you rest. A usual course of treatment includes six to 12 sessions over a three-month period.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), a number of studies suggest that acupuncture works particularly well on chronic pain such as back and neck pain; osteoarthritis/knee pain.

A clinical study from University Ottawa showed that participants noticed a reduction of pain both 24 hours and four months later when using acupuncture for the treatment of arthritis.  

How often do you need to get acupuncture?

How much of a benefit you receive may depend on the severity of your arthritis, and how often you get treated.  Often times multiple sessions may not be cost effective, considering that acupuncture prices can range from $75 to $200 per session. This is why community acupuncture is the best acupuncture for the treatment of arthritis.  Community acupuncture clinics charge $20- $45 a session, making it a much more affordable way to receive regular acupuncture treatments.

Medicare and Medicaid don’t cover the cost, but some private health insurance companies will pay, at least to some extent.

 If you have been suffering for the pain from arthritis getting acupuncture is a great natural therapy to help keep you active and out of pain.