Can acupuncture help to relieve Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Yes! For patients under the care of traditional MD, acupuncture is seen as a complementary treatment for pain management. Acupuncture, along with other holistic therapies such as yoga, mindfulness/meditation, and diet, can greatly improve the overall condition from those who suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain.
What is Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic Pelvic Pain is one of the most common medical problems among women.
According to the International Pelvic Pain Society, Chronic Pelvic Pain is any pelvic pain that lasts longer than six months. Pelvic pain occurs anywhere in the area below the bellybutton and between the hips. Some conditions that increase the risk for Pelvic Pain include endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and possibly suffering physical or sexual abuse. Other pain related conditions include vulvodynia, pelvic inflammatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome, scarring after abdominal surgery, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
In the case of Chronic Pelvic Pain, often times the problem that originally caused the pain has been eliminated, but the pain persists. From the perspective of Western Medicine, the reason the pain is still there could be because of changes to the muscles, nerves, or other tissues near the pelvis. This means that in the case of Chronic Pelvic Pain, the pain itself becomes the disease. Despite what many women may be told during the frustration of suffering from Chronic Pelvic Pain symptoms long after the original condition has resolved, it is not “all in your head!”
Some common experiences from women suffering from Chronic Pelvic Pain include:
Physical symptoms, including pain and insomnia
Emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression
Behavioral changes such as no longer enjoying activities and avoiding intercourse
Chronic Pelvic Pain can also affect other parts of the body. Pain can lead to increased muscle tension in the pelvic or pelvic floor area, which may affect the bladder and bowels, back and leg nerves, or other areas.
Is acupuncture safe and effective in treating pain?
Yes, acupuncture is proven effective in the treatment of many types of chronic muscular and neuropathic pain. Evidence shows that acupuncture releases opioid peptides, which at least partially explains the ability of acupuncture to relieve pain. In addition, acupuncture may also activate other key parts of the brain that regulate the body, such as the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a range of positive effects on the body systems.
Can an acupuncture session treat multiple conditions at the same time, including stress?
Acupuncture can also help to address the psychological and emotional stress that Chronic Pelvic Pain takes on an individual. Treating acupuncture points at the source of the primary discomfort as well as other parts of the body can improve the overall result of the treatment, often leading a patient to see benefits in what may appear to be unrelated areas. For example, a patient with Chronic Pelvic Pain may also be suffering from at least one of the following: back pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, headaches, or digestive issues. When applied correctly, acupuncture can treat these different issues simultaneously in a single session.
Ready to try acupuncture for pain relief?
Healing from Chronic Pelvic Pain takes time and often times ongoing and multi-disciplinary treatments. In Seeking Acupuncture for Pelvic or Vulvar Pain management, It is important to work with a practitioner who is familiar with and interested in this specific part of the body.
At Tara Diaz Wellness, our goal is to provide the highest quality integrative healthcare to our patients and guide them towards optimal health.