Understanding Pain: A Whole-Person Approach to Finding Relief

September is Pain Awareness Month, a time to recognize the many people living with acute or chronic pain and to bring more awareness to the different ways we can support the body when pain becomes part of daily life.

Pain is more than a physical sensation. It involves the nervous system, muscles and joints, inflammation, sleep, stress, emotions, and overall health. While pain is an important protective signal, persistent pain can sometimes continue long after an original injury has healed.

The good news is that managing pain doesn't have to mean simply taking medication or learning to live with it. A whole-person approach can include acupuncture, massage, nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, stress management, and other supportive therapies.

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years as part of East Asian medicine, and modern research is helping us understand more about how it may influence pain.

Acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and can help activate the body's own pain-regulating mechanisms. It may influence nerve signaling, circulation, muscle tension, inflammation, and the way the nervous system processes pain. It can also stimulate the release of the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals, including endorphins and enkephalins.

In simple terms, acupuncture may help change the way the nervous system experiences and responds to pain. This can be especially helpful when pain has become chronic, and the nervous system has become more sensitive.

Research has found acupuncture to be helpful for several common chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches.

What Types of Pain Can Acupuncture Address?

Acupuncture and East Asian medicine may be helpful for many different types of pain, including:

• Low back and neck pain

• Shoulder pain and tension

• Arthritis and joint pain

• Headaches and migraines

• Muscle tension and myofascial pain

• Sports and overuse injuries

• Menstrual cramps

• Some nerve-related pain

• Post-injury pain

• Chronic pain conditions

  
  

One of the unique aspects of East Asian medicine is that the same diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean the same treatment.

For example, two people may both experience low back pain, but one may have pain that is sharp and fixed, while another has a dull, achy sensation that feels worse when they are tired. An East Asian medicine practitioner looks at the overall pattern, including the quality of the pain, energy, sleep, digestion, temperature, stress, and other symptoms to develop an individualized treatment approach.

Pain Relief Is About More Than One Treatment: Acupuncture can be one piece of a larger pain-management plan.

Nutrition: What we eat can influence inflammation and provide the nutrients needed for tissue repair and recovery. A diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, adequate protein, healthy fats, herbs, spices, and minimally processed foods can be a good foundation. Foods rich in omega-3 fats such as salmon, sardines, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds, can also be beneficial additions.

Movement: When we're hurting, it's natural to want to stop moving. While rest can be important after an acute injury, too much inactivity can contribute to stiffness, weakness, and increased sensitivity to pain. Gentle walking, stretching, strength training, yoga, or physical therapy can help restore mobility and confidence in your body.

Massage: Massage therapy can be particularly helpful when muscle tension, tightness, trigger points, or soft-tissue restrictions contribute to discomfort. Massage may help relax tense muscles, support circulation, encourage comfortable movement, and promote relaxation. It can also complement acupuncture beautifully.

Sleep: Poor sleep can make pain feel more intense. Prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule and creating a calming bedtime routine can help support the nervous system and the body's natural recovery processes.

Stress management: Chronic stress can keep the nervous system in a heightened state of alert, which may increase our sensitivity to pain. Practices such as deep breathing, meditation, time outdoors, gentle movement, and other restorative activities can help signal to the nervous system that it is safe to relax.

A Different Way to Think About Pain

Pain is real, and it deserves to be taken seriously. But especially with chronic pain, experiencing pain doesn't always mean that something is being damaged every moment you feel it. The nervous system itself can become more sensitive over time.

Instead of asking only, "What can I take to make the pain go away?", it can be helpful to also ask: "What might be contributing to my pain, and what can I do to help my body feel supported, safe, and capable of healing?"

For some people, that may include acupuncture. For others, massage, nutrition, movement, better sleep, stress reduction, or a combination of approaches may be most helpful.

Pain doesn't have to be approached with a one-size-fits-all solution. Looking at the whole person can give us more opportunities to support the body and improve quality of life.

If you or someone you know is struggling, pass this along and call us for your appointment today.

Wishing you health,

Dr. Dalite Sancic, DACM, L.Ac.