Acupuncture for chronic pain

Pain has a way of making life feel smaller. We move less, breath more shallowly, stop doing what we love.

At first it might stop you going for a run, gardening or carrying your children. Over time it can affect your sleep, your confidence, your work and even your relationships. Many people begin avoiding activities they once loved because they’re worried about making the pain worse.

Living with persistent pain is exhausting.

It’s not just the pain itself. It’s the constant calculations.

Can I manage the stairs?
How long will I be able to stand for?
Will I pay for this tomorrow if I do too much today?
One of the things I hear most often in clinic is, “I’ve just learned to live with it.”

But living with pain doesn’t mean you have to stop looking for ways to improve your quality of life.

Understanding chronic pain

Pain is rarely just about muscles, joints or injured tissues.

We now understand that persistent pain involves the nervous system as well as the body. Sometimes pain continues long after an injury has healed. Sometimes it develops alongside chronic illness, stress or periods of overwhelming life events. The nervous system can become increasingly sensitive, making pain feel louder, more frequent or more widespread.

That doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real.

It means your body has become stuck in a protective state.

As a trauma-informed practitioner, I recognise that our emotional experiences, stress levels and nervous system regulation can all influence how pain is experienced. This doesn’t mean pain is “all in your head.” Rather, it acknowledges the close relationship between the body, the brain and the nervous system.

How acupuncture can help

In Chinese medicine, pain is understood as a loss of free movement. Acupuncture for chronic pain aims to restore that movement, not only in muscles and joints, but in the nervous system, the breath and the whole person. As the body begins to feel safer, many people find they move more freely, sleep more deeply and gradually regain confidence in what their body can do.

Simply brilliant! After struggling with consistent headaches and sinus pressure for over 8 months I visited Katy in hope she may be able to help. Within a few weeks my headaches and pressure had eased, and after five or so sessions I was completely headache free. Highly recommend!

What kind of pain does acupuncture relieve?

Chronic: Acupuncture has demonstrated efficacy in managing chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and neuropathy.

Musculoskeletal: It is commonly used to alleviate musculoskeletal issues like backache, neck pain, and joint pain, tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis.

Headaches and Migraines: Acupuncture is recognised for its ability to reduce the frequency and intensity of tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches.

Menstrual: Many women find relief from menstrual cramps and other menstrual-related discomfort such as endometriosis through acupuncture treatments.

Postoperative: Acupuncture can complement postoperative recovery by reducing pain, swelling, and promoting quicker healing. It can also help with scar healing.

Cancer-Related: Some cancer patients have reported decreased pain, nausea, and improved overall well-being with acupuncture as a complementary therapy.

Nerve: Conditions like sciatica and diabetic neuropathy may benefit from acupuncture’s ability to stimulate nerve function and reduce pain signals.

Emotional: Acupuncture is known to have a calming effect on the mind, making it a potential option for managing stress, anxiety, and depression-related physical symptoms.

 I have crippling pain from severe arthritis in my hip which makes life with two small children difficult and distressing. Katy brought me so much pain relief and released my limbs so much the first time she ‘pinned me’ that I burst out crying. She keeps me moving and smiling. She is magic. And lovely. 

Thinking about acupuncture?

If you’re living with persistent pain and wondering whether acupuncture for chronic pain could help, I’d be happy to talk things through.

I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation where you can ask questions and decide whether treatment feels right for you.

Return to acupuncture for chronic illness…