Chronic Pain
Pain is the most prevalent health condition among U.S. workers and the most expensive in terms of lost productivity.
Pain is not a symptom that exists alone. Other quality of life issues associated with pain can include:
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:
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:
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)
- Stay in bed all day
Feel hopeless and/or helpless about life - Stay in bed at least half the day.
Have no contact with outside world. - Get out of bed but don’t get dressed
Stay at home all day - Get dressed in the morning
Minimal activities at home
Contact with friends via phone, email - Do simple chores around the house
Minimal activities outside of home two days/week - Struggle but fulfill daily home responsibilities
No outside activity
Not able to work/volunteer - Work/volunteer limited hours
Take part in limited social activities on weekends - Work/volunteer for a few hours daily
Can be active at least 5 hours a day
Can plan to do simple activities on weekends. - Work/volunteer for at least six hours daily
Have energy to plan one evening social activity during week.
Active on weekends - Work/volunteer/be active 8 hours daily
Take part in family life
Outside social activities limited - 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.