What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that comes from traditional Chinese medicine. During an acupuncture session, your practitioner inserts very fine stainless steel needles into your skin to treat health problems. Traditional acupuncture aims to open up your flow of Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is thought to be energy that flows along your body's 14 major energy-carrying channels, or “meridians.” Traditional acupuncturists believe that blocks in Qi cause illness in your body. And they believe that unblocking this flow of Qi can treat and cure illnesses.
In the U.S., acupuncture is most often used to treat pain, especially in the back, neck, and joints. Read on to learn more about how acupuncture can help with your arthritis pain.
What Conditions Does Acupuncture Help Treat?
You shouldn’t rely on acupuncture to treat a chronic or serious illness. In other words, acupuncture is not an alternative to traditional treatments for most health conditions. But it can be an effective complement to your other treatment. Talk to your doctor about any complementary health approaches – like acupuncture – you're using. They can help you come up with a plan that both uses your complementary approaches and effectively treats your condition.
Acupuncture may be helpful for a number of pain conditions, including
- Back or neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Headache and migraine
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Sciatica
- Postoperative pain
- Cancer pain
- Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
Studies show that it may also be helpful for conditions such as:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis, or hay fever)
- Stress incontinence
- Treatment-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients
- Asthma symptoms (although it does not appear to improve lung function)
How Does Acupuncture Work for Arthritis?
Researchers don't know precisely how acupuncture works. What researchers do know is:
Acupuncture seems to have nonspecific effects. These are effects that may be due to:
- The patient's belief in the treatment (the placebo effect)
- The time and care the acupuncturist takes with the patient and the relationship between them
- Other things not caused by inserting needles into your skin
The reason that researchers think acupuncture may have nonspecific effects is because when acupuncture is compared with no treatment at all, the benefit is greater than when it's compared with sham (or fake) acupuncture. During sham acupuncture, the practitioner may, for instance, poke your skin with an acupuncture needle but won't insert it into your skin. Also, a recent study showed that patients can get a similar amount of pain relief just re-imagining an acupuncture session as they got from the actual session. So, it seems like just thinking you're getting acupuncture helps as much as getting acupuncture, at least for pain relief.
Acupuncture may have direct effects on some tissues, such as your nervous system and connective tissues. When researchers use imaging to see what's happening in the brains of people who are getting acupuncture, they see changes in the way the nervous system functions. It may be that inserting the needles into your skin causes your brain to release endorphins. Endorphins are small proteins that your brain produces in response to pain, stress, and pleasurable activities like exercise, massage, eating, and having sex. They help relieve pain, lower your stress, improve your mood, and improve your feelings of well-being.
Inserting an acupuncture needle into the skin also seems to release cortisol, which is a hormone your body makes that regulates your stress response. Among other things, cortisol helps stop inflammation in your body. Researchers see some changes in the way the connective tissue – like that in your joints – functions when you get acupuncture. It may be that getting acupuncture helps reduce inflammation in your joints, which often comes with pain in arthritis.
What Happens During Acupuncture?
First, make sure your acupuncturist uses single-use, pre-sterilized needles. In the U.S., the FDA defines acupuncture needles as medical devices, which means they are regulated products. As part of this regulation, the FDA says they must be sterile and labelled as single-use only. Don't go to an acupuncturist who reuses needles because this can cause complications, such as infections.
Your acupuncturist will choose specific points (called acupuncture points) to place the needles based on your condition and symptoms. They will usually place more than one needle during a typical session, but, again, this depends on your condition and symptoms. They can also vary how deeply they place the needles – for instance, they may place them just under your skin or deeper into your muscles.
You will usually need to sit or lie down, and you will probably need to remove some of your clothes so your acupuncturist can place the needles. These needles are very fine – about 0.25 millimeters around, or as big around as a human hair. For comparison, a syringe needle is usually about 2.9 millimeters around. So, you could fit at least 10 acupuncture needles into one syringe needle.
Once the needles are placed, they are left in place for several minutes up to an hour. Your acupuncturist may adjust, warm, or electrically energize them to intensify the effect. You may feel some tingling if electricity is used. It should be mild, and you can ask your acupuncturist to dial it down at any time.
Most of the time, you'll need more than one session. Your acupuncturist will let you know their schedule recommendation. But most conditions will take a few sessions to get the full benefit, so try at least five sessions before you decide whether to continue.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Acupuncture should not be very painful. You may feel a small pinch, a tingling, or a dull ache where each needle is placed. Your acupuncturist may ask you to tell them if you feel heavy or numb; these feelings may mean your treatment is working.
In general, acupuncture should hurt less than when you get a vaccine shot or your blood drawn, since the needles are much thinner. If it hurts more than this, tell your acupuncturist right away.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Yes, it's generally considered safe. Very few complications have been reported with acupuncture. Most complications come from using non-sterile or non-disposable needles, or when the needles aren't placed in the right way. When acupuncture is done with disposable needles under clean, sterile conditions, and by a qualified practitioner, complications are very unlikely.
It's normal after your session to have a bit of soreness, mild bleeding, or bruising where your needles were placed. Some people may also have a bit of nausea or dizziness afterward.
Acupuncture may not be safe for you if you:
- Have a bleeding disorder, like hemophilia
- Take an anticoagulant medicine, like warfarin
- Have an allergy to metal
- Have a pacemaker
- Are pregnant
Advantages of Acupuncture for Arthritis
The advantages of acupuncture for arthritis include:
- It's a drug-free way to ease your pain.
- You could decrease your need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain medicines to manage your pain.
- It may ease some side effects, such as nausea and fatigue, you get from other arthritis treatments.
- It may have some anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce swelling and pain in your joints.
Is Acupuncture for Arthritis Approved?
A few professional medical organizations recommend acupuncture to treat osteoarthritis. For instance, in their latest clinical guideline (2019) on osteoarthritis, the American College of Rheumatology gives acupuncture a conditional recommendation. They say that since many studies show that it can help with pain management and it's a generally safe therapy, you could consider adding it to your management plan. But it can't replace your other treatments for arthritis. If you're interested in trying acupuncture, make sure you talk to your doctor and get their OK first.
Many states require acupuncturists be licensed before practicing, but the requirements for getting a license vary. Call your local public health office to find out what the licensing requirements for acupuncturists are in your state.
How Much Does Acupuncture Cost?
This varies a lot, depending on many things, including where you live, what condition you're getting it for, and whether this is a first or follow-up session. But according to a 2019 study done in the U.S., the cost for a first-time session ranged between $15 and $400, with a median cost of $112. For a follow-up visit, the cost ranged between $15 and $300, with a median cost of $80.
Make sure you understand what you're being charged for because some acupuncturists may bill separately for consultation fees and needle placement.
Is Acupuncture Covered by Insurance?
Some insurance companies will cover acupuncture treatment, while others won't. This often depends on the condition you're treating. Call your insurance company and ask if acupuncture is covered under your policy. If it is, ask what conditions it's covered for, if you need a a referral from your doctor, and how many sessions are covered.
For instance, Medicare currently covers up to 12 sessions for chronic low-back pain, with an option for eight more sessions if you got relief from your first 12 sessions. But Medicare doesn't currently cover acupuncture for other conditions.
How Long Do the Effects of Acupuncture Last for Arthritis Pain?
It's difficult to say how long your effects will last because that depends on many different things, such as:
- Your general health
- How many previous sessions you've had
- How long your sessions last
- Where you're having pain
- What other treatments you're receiving
Ask your acupuncturist for an estimate of how long you can expect your effects to last, given your situation. They may also be able to suggest ways to extend the effects of your session.
What to Do After a Session of Acupuncture for Arthritis
Some people feel really relaxed and drowsy after their acupuncture session, while others feel energized. Some people may also feel dizzy or faint. Until you know how your sessions typically affect you, arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.
Even if you feel great after your session, it's likely that your acupuncturist will suggest you take it easy for the rest of your day, eat healthy, and stay hydrated. Between your sessions, keep taking any medicines your doctor prescribed for your condition.
Takeaways
Acupuncture is a treatment that comes from traditional Chinese medicine and uses very fine stainless steel needles placed in your skin to treat health problems. In the U.S., it's most often used as a complementary therapy to treat chronic pain, like that linked to arthritis. It can be expensive, but your insurance may cover it for certain conditions. It's generally considered safe as long as your acupuncturist uses single-use, pre-sterilized needles and is properly trained. It can decrease your need for pain medicine, so if you're interested in trying it, talk to your doctor.
Acupuncture for Arthritis FAQ
How often should I get acupuncture?
This depends on your condition and how well it works for you. Because it may take several sessions before you feel a benefit, plan to go at least five to 10 times.
