Compassionate Oriental and Integrative Medicine

Office: (651) 235-7324 | Fax: (651) 714-9632
Serving Mpls., Saint Paul, Hudson and beyond
Debi Rene Weiss, LAc., Dipl.Ac., R.N., MaOM
Acupuncturist, Medical Herbalist, Holistic Nurse

Compassionate Oriental and Integrative Medicine

Office: (651) 235-7324 | Fax: (651) 714-9632
Serving Mpls., Saint Paul, Hudson and beyond
Debi Rene Weiss, LAc., Dipl.Ac., R.N., MaOM
Acupuncturist, Medical Herbalist, Holistic Nurse

Chronic Pain and Its Effects on Individuals

Chronic Pain

Pain is the most prevalent health condition among U.S. workers and the most expensive in terms of lost productivity. 

  • Mild to severe pain that does not go away after 3-6 months
  • Pain may be described as shooting, burning, aching, or electrical
  • Unrelenting feeling of discomfort, soreness, tightness, or stiffness
Pain is not a symptom that exists alone. Other quality of life issues associated with pain can include:
  • Fatigue, exhaustion
  • Sleeplessness, insomnia
  • Withdrawal from activity
  • Increased need to rest
  • Weakened immune system
  • Changes in mood: hopelessness,
  • fear, depression, irritability, anxiety
  • Stress results from pain & aggravates pain
  • Disability and functional losses

Acupuncture Treatment of Chronic Pain

“Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month.”
CDC Vital Signs, November 2011

“Annually an estimated 3 million American adults receive acupuncture treatment and chronic pain is the most common presentation.”
JAMA Oct. 22, 2012, Vol. 172, No. 19

During your first acupuncture appointment we will discuss:
  • How and when the pain started
  • Location of your pain
  • Quality of your pain – how you experience the pain
  • What makes your pain better or worse
  • How your pain impacts your daily living
  • Treatments you have tried
  • Medicines used and any side effects
  • Your lifestyle

In treating chronic pain, we often recommend two acupuncture treatments per week for two weeks. This allows for solid clinical evaluation of how your body responds to acupuncture and improves your quality of life.

After four treatments, Phase 2 of the treatment plan will be established. Depending upon the source of the pain, how long you have had the pain, and other therapies in use, a series of 12 treatments is common.

After the initial series, many chronic conditions can be managed with monthly treatments or during flair ups.

Quality of Life

Chronic pain takes a toll on one’s quality of life. That's true whether your pain is due to cancer, shingles, arthritis, injury, or any other cause. Chronic pain can impact:

  • Your ability to work
  • Socializing with family and friends
  • Regular exercise, leading to weight gain and muscle loss
  • Keeping up with household and family chores
  • Your mood, often losing interest in life
  • Sound and restorative sleep
  • Reliance on OTC and narcotic pain meds, alcohol
  • Stress

At Transition To Health we utilize the Quality of Life Scale as one tool that can help us assess your pain as well as monitor improvement, deterioration, or treatment-related complications. A copy of the scale follows:

The Quality of Life Scale: Measure of Function for People With Pain

Developed by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)

 

  1. Stay in bed all day
    Feel hopeless and/or helpless about life
  2. Stay in bed at least half the day.
    Have no contact with outside world.
  3. Get out of bed but don’t get dressed
    Stay at home all day
  4. Get dressed in the morning
    Minimal activities at home
    Contact with friends via phone, email
  5. Do simple chores around the house
    Minimal activities outside of home two days/week
  6. Struggle but fulfill daily home responsibilities
    No outside activity
    Not able to work/volunteer
  7. Work/volunteer limited hours
    Take part in limited social activities on weekends
  8. Work/volunteer for a few hours daily
    Can be active at least 5 hours a day
    Can plan to do simple activities on weekends.
  9. Work/volunteer for at least six hours daily
    Have energy to plan one evening social activity during week.
    Active on weekends
  10. Work/volunteer/be active 8 hours daily
    Take part in family life
    Outside social activities limited
  11. Go to work/volunteer each day
    Normal daily activities each day
    Have a social life outside of work
    Take an active part in family life

Don't suffer through another day - call Transition To Health for relief.

(651) 235-7324