A pinched nerve is a common condition where a nerve is compressed by the surrounding tissue. This causes pain, numbness and tingling, but isn’t usually very serious and will often go away on its own in 4-6 weeks. However, during this time, many people turn to Western medicine to help relieve the pain and discomfort.
But, what if there was a drug-free alternative with less side effects?
So, can Acupuncture help a pinched nerve?
Experts agree that Acupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for pinched nerves, helping to improve blood circulation and relieve pain. It may also be an effective treatment for neuropathy and other conditions relating to nerve damage.
Read on to learn more about Acupuncture for pinched nerves and neuropathy with Breeze Academy.
Can Acupuncture Treat a Pinched Nerve?
Acupuncture may not necessarily be able to cure a pinched nerve, but research and observational evidence suggests that it could be a good alternative to medication for reducing pain and discomfort associated with the condition Frontiers.Likewise, early studies report that Acupuncture may be beneficial for more severe neuropathy Science Direct
Acupuncture for pinched nerves works in two ways; first, it helps to reduce pain by stimulating the nervous system and releasing pain-killing endorphins. Pain relief is a major benefit of Acupuncture and can be used to treat most pain conditions in a natural, drug-free and relatively risk-free manner ESMED
Secondly, Acupuncture increases blood flow to the affected area. This delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to the area, helping to speed up the healing of damaged tissues around the nerve. In more severe cases, such as neuropathy, this may also help to restore the nerve damage. Learn more about how Acupuncture benefits blood flow and circulation in our recent blog, Can Acupuncture Help Circulation in the Legs?, where we go into more detail about the phenomenon.
How Effective is Acupuncture for Nerve Damage?
Acupuncture helps to improve blood flow and stimulate the nervous system. In turn, this effectively restimulates damaged nerve fibres. Expert acupuncturists also claim that Acupuncture may work to regenerate nerves.HFH
A Systematic Reviews conducted in 2017 suggested that Acupuncture is an effective treatment for pinched nerve and more severe nerve damage. Some state that it is an effective alternative treatment to more traditional care and has fewer side effects. This is particularly beneficial for those that can’t or don’t want to use various medications. PubMed
As an addition to Acupuncture, treatment may be more effective if Massage Therapy is used to relax and soothe the surrounding tissues.
How Long Does Acupuncture for Neuropathy Take to Work?
A general rule of thumb is that most clients will need a minimum of 6-8 before they begin to see the benefits. Some may experience benefits, such as reduced pain and discomfort, after just 1 or 2 sessions, but it’s important to understand that this is rarely enough to receive long-term benefits.
After the initial 6-8 sessions, the practitioner may then reduce the frequency of treatment or recommend it intermittently as maintenance. This could be weekly, fortnightly, monthly or longer depending on the condition.
