“How many sessions of acupuncture do you need for chronic pain?”
I have chronic neck pain. How many sessions of acupuncture do you need for chronic pain?
13 Answers
This really depends on the patient. Some people feel a great deal of relief immediately after acupuncture, and it can last for a couple of days at first. With more Acupuncture, the relief for last longer.
It is impossible to predict the exact number of sessions as there are many variables. It depends on where the pain is, how severe the chronic pain is, and on the patient. I suggest you see an acupuncturist to get an evaluation. Acupuncture with massage, and sometimes herbs, is a very effective treatment for chronic pain issues.
4 treatments for every year of problem
It depends. Some people have relief after 1-5 session and sometimes it takes many more.
Acupuncture is usually temporary in pain relief.If your pain lingers for more than a month or two you need an accurate diagnosis.
12. Read here: https://philaacupuncture.com/acupuncture-for-neck-pain/
If the pain is chronic and has been there for a long time, the patient may need ongoing treatments.
Every patient is different but most feel some relief after a couple of treatments
No one can answer that question with any certainty. I tell people I need to see them twice a week until the pain goes down and stays down between appointments. Then I go to once a week, once every other week, and so on til the pain is gone. Patience is key as we're trying to heal the problem, not cover it up.
Twice a week for 4-6 weeks, then once a week for 4-6 weeks, then 3 times a month.
Usually 4-5 sessions of acupuncture is enough for chronic neck pain.
Lejla Fazlicic
Acupuncturist
Initially at least 6 treatments to improve symptoms and after that maintenance treatment every other week.
Dr. Leila
Dr. Leila
The answer, unfortunately, is: it depends.
Where, exactly, do you experience the pain? How long is 'chronic'? Is the pain radiating or fixed? What makes the pain better/worse? Do you have any conventional diagnosis or the results of any imaging? Are you seeing a board certified and state licensed acupuncturist or someone who is attempting to apply needles to your problem under the scope of some other medical license? Does your provider specialize in pain management or are they more of a generalist?
As you can see, this isn't a straight-forward question and doesn't have a straight-forward answer. What, exactly, your problem is and what kind of provider you choose to see are going to have an effect on how many treatments you might be looking at.
Speaking very generally, acupuncture has a dose dependency and is typically a front-loaded process. This means that more treatment, to a point, will usually yield better results. Front-loaded means your provider will see you more often initially and then taper off as you begin to get sustained results.
A usual course of therapy might be somewhere around 8-10 treatments. You should be noticing a difference after treatment 3 or 4 - sometimes earlier. Keep in mind, these are average numbers. Your particular case might take more, or it might take less.
Where, exactly, do you experience the pain? How long is 'chronic'? Is the pain radiating or fixed? What makes the pain better/worse? Do you have any conventional diagnosis or the results of any imaging? Are you seeing a board certified and state licensed acupuncturist or someone who is attempting to apply needles to your problem under the scope of some other medical license? Does your provider specialize in pain management or are they more of a generalist?
As you can see, this isn't a straight-forward question and doesn't have a straight-forward answer. What, exactly, your problem is and what kind of provider you choose to see are going to have an effect on how many treatments you might be looking at.
Speaking very generally, acupuncture has a dose dependency and is typically a front-loaded process. This means that more treatment, to a point, will usually yield better results. Front-loaded means your provider will see you more often initially and then taper off as you begin to get sustained results.
A usual course of therapy might be somewhere around 8-10 treatments. You should be noticing a difference after treatment 3 or 4 - sometimes earlier. Keep in mind, these are average numbers. Your particular case might take more, or it might take less.
