Staying in Balance Acupuncture
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Staying in Balance Acupuncture

Insights into Holistic Healing

Why Pain Saps Energy and What to Do About it

11/18/2024

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I hear time & time again from patients that as they begin to feel pain relief, they find they have so much more time & energy.  Being pain-free allows them to sleep better at night, go back to exercising & be able to return to doing the things that they love.
 
The truth is pain, while often not serious, can sap energy and be difficult to manage because the brain is sending constant messages that something is wrong.
 

Sadly, for most of us, no one has told us what to do to get relief. 

Cortisone & muscle relaxers offer temporary, and sometimes necessary relief.  However, they don’t treat the underlying problem.
 
To do this, it’s important to understand how pain develops and why it can persist long after our bodies have healed from an injury.
 
We experience pain when special nerve endings called nociceptors detect harmful stimuli and send electrical signals to the central nervous system.  There are 3 types of nociceptors that respond to three types of harmful stimuli:
  • thermal receptors respond to extreme temperatures
  • mechanical receptors respond to pressure or mechanical injury
  • chemical receptors respond to changes in tissues caused by inflammation or tissue damage
The brain interprets these signals & warns the body of danger.  This is the body’s first line of defense and is extremely necessary. 

Unfortunately, when pain goes on for a long time it causes the nervous system to be overly sensitized.  All kinds of sensations are recognized as threats, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates pain even if there is nothing fundamentally wrong & no immediate danger.
 
It’s not clear to many of my patients why this is happening, making the situation even more frustrating. 
 
And pain, unlike more serious diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease and cancer, is often unrelenting.  Nerve endings continue to send signals to the brain, sometimes after the injury has healed.
 
Ideally, we figure out what is causing the pain & with the help of acupuncture, craniosacral therapy & simple adjustments to posture, as well as some gentle movements, the body heals & the pain goes away.  I see this happening over and over again.  But honestly, particularly with chronic conditions, this takes time.
 
What to do in the moment, when there is real discomfort?
 
I recommend these strategies from the 
Mayo Clinic’s website
4(26.7%)
:
 
  • “Practice breathing exercises.
    Inhale slowly through the nose, allow your lungs and belly to expand, then exhale slowly through your mouth and nose.
  • Get moving.
    Work with a physical or occupational therapist on appropriate 
    exercises
    4(26.7%)
     to gradually retrain your body. Incorporate a gentle stretching program into your routine, such as 
    yoga
    4(26.7%)
     or tai chi.
  • Participate in meaningful activities.
    The body's natural, feel-good chemicals, called endorphins, are activated by exercise, relaxation techniques and enjoyable experiences. Set aside time each day for a simple activity that is calming or brings you joy.
  • Engage in mindfulness.
    Meditation does not have to be fancy or complicated. Allow yourself to 
    focus on the present
    0(0%)
     moment, letting go of any interpretation or judgment. To start, try paying attention to one sensory input at a time, such as hearing or vision.
  • Use moderation and pacing.
    Set realistic goals and start by doing one-third of what you think you can do. For more difficult tasks, try setting a timer to remind yourself to take a break.
  • Practice good sleep habits.
    Establish regular bed and wake times. Use your bed for 
    sleep
    0(0%)
     and sex only. Do not spend your day there.
  • Eliminate unhelpful substances.
    Smoking restricts blood flow, which prevents healing. Alcohol creates nerve damage over time.
  • Treat related conditions.
    Cognitive behavioral therapy with a licensed mental health professional helps decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental and physical health concerns.
  • Stay connected to your support system
    While it's important to take time for yourself, having family and friends that care about you is important. Although you may want to be left alone during bouts of chronic pain, lean in to support from others.”
I also recommend:
  • Experiment with an anti-inflammatory diet.
    The medical field agrees that sugar & processed foods cause inflammation in the body that increases pain. I often work with patients to eliminate these foods.
  • Make sure that you have the right desk chair, mattress & pillow.
    These effect the muscles in the body.  I've seen patients get great results by choosing chairs & beds that offer appropriate support.
  • Limit screen time.
    This is important for two reasons.
    • Often when we're scrolling on our phones or looking at our computers we're in postures that are hard on the body.  Last year after I was in the hospital for my kidney transplant surgery, I spent just four days looking at my phone non-stop.  It caused intense shoulder pain that took a few weeks to resolve.
    • Our brains need a chance to rest. Phones & computers can interfere with this process.
  • Be gentle & forgiving with yourself.
    You didn't intentional cause yourself to be in pain.  Most likely you're not an acupuncturist or physical therapist.  You haven't received years of training in body mechanics, physiology or neurology.
  • Don't give up hope.
    Know that myself & other health professionals truly want to help.  Often there are fairly simple solutions for pain relief, even if you haven't found them yet.  Please don't give up hope.

Feel free to reach out to me for a free consultationif you are looking for a way to get pain relief.
 
With you on your journey towards health!
 
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Pain Relief for Sciatica

9/10/2020

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Picture
Pain is one of those pesky things we think we have to live with. You, like many of my patients, may have experienced sciatica.  It’s something that generally isn’t serious in a life-threatening way, but creates so much distress and discomfort.  If you have sciatica, you probably will be in pain doing your normal daily activities, like walking, sitting or sleeping.
 
Your doctor may want to help you, but has minimal tools – anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone shots – both of which come with side effects.  Also, they don’t fix the problem.
 
Here’s where being open to trying a new modality like acupuncture can be helpful.  Treatments reduce inflammation, relax muscles and treat areas of the spine that may be pressing on the sciatic nerve.
 
That’s what Phil Chmura found out when he came to see me.  Phil suffered from severe sciatica. The pain interfered with his daily life to the extent that he couldn't stand for more than 3 minutes before the pain started and continued to increase. He had already tried treatments like chiropractic and anti-inflammatory drugs to no avail and he wanted to avoid cortisone shots.

He finally decided it was time to turn his life around and came to see me after getting encouragement from his daughter and friend of mine, Amber Ladley.
 
After just nine weekly treatments, we were able to virtually eliminate his pain!
 

Phil was able to get back to biking – one of his favorite activities.  When I reached out to him, about a year and a half after treatment, he responded with these words:
 
"I have fortunately been relatively pain free since the completion and have just recently signed up for my second bike trip across the USA.  I cannot thank Bonnie enough for getting my life back to normal and would highly recommend  her services."
 
I thank Phil for sharing his story. With pain, you have options.  By being open to complementary forms of treatment, like acupuncture, you can find ways of reducing and eliminating pain.
 
You might be a little nervous to try something new.  I understand that.  People have concerns about the needles, the safety of treatment, trying something outside of Western Medicine.
 
That’s why I offer free ½ hour, online consultations.  I’ll listen to what is causing you pain and discomfort, review your health history and honestly let you know how I can be helpful. 

Please know that you don't have to suffer in silence if you're in pain.​

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
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Relief from Sciatica

8/25/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Sciatic Nerve
Picture
Bladder and Gallbladder Meridians

​​Sciatica is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve – the longest and widest nerve in the body.  It’s about the thickness of your little finger.
 
While sciatica often isn’t serious, it can create a lot of discomfort.
 
From an acupuncture perspective, there are two meridians (energetic pathways) that are involved, the bladder and gall bladder meridians.  Note: Inflammation in these meridians does not mean that you have bladder or gall bladder problems.

When there is the smooth flow of energy through the meridians, there’s health in the body.  Notice how the meridians run along the same area of the sciatic nerve.
 
Treatments can help:
-open up restrictions in the meridians
-reduce inflammation along the spine in areas that are pressing on the sciatic nerve
-relax muscles that are contracting and causing pain
-teach you to eat in a way that reduces inflammation in the body


1 Comment

    Author

    In practice for over 20 years, Bonnie Diamond offers individualized, heart-centered care using a pain-free, Japanese style of acupuncture.  Her work is influenced by her nine year struggle with and complete recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  

    Interested in finding out more?

    ​
    Schedule a free 20 minute online consultation.

    Acupuncture Consultation, Easthampton, MA
    View my profile on LinkedIn

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​Easthampton, MA 01027
​781-718-6325

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  • Home
    • Bio
  • Services
    • Conditions Treated >
      • Back Pain
      • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
      • Colds, Flus & Viruses
      • Depression, Anxiety, Stress
      • Insomnia
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Neck & Shoulder Pain
      • Preventative Care
      • Sciatica
      • Side Effects of Chemo and Radiation
      • Sports Injury
    • Craniosacral Therapy
    • Japanese Acupuncture
    • Yummy Healthy Food Nutritional Counseling
  • Testimonials
    • Google Reviews
  • Appointments
    • Free Consultation
    • Initial Visit
    • Contact
    • Forms
    • Directions
  • Blog
    • Yummy Healthy Food
  • Gift Cards