NICE Recommends Acupuncture for Chronic Primary pain

April 8, 2021
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published support for the use of both traditional Chinese and Western acupuncture for chronic primary pain.  Chronic primary pain is defined by NICE as pain for which no underlying condition adequately accounts for the pain or its impact. 

In November 2016, NICE did not support acupuncture for the treatment of low back pain.  Their view was that there was no evidence that it was better than sham treatment. (https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/nice-publishes-updated-advice-on-treating-low-back-pain )  This surprising stance was objectionable not only to acupuncture practitioners but also to Western medical doctors.  Even the British Medical Journal questioned the recommendation. (https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6748/rr-3)
 
Yesterday, April 7, however, NICE published guidelines recommending the use of acupuncture for chronic pain:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/chapter/Recommendations#assessing-all-types-of-chronic-pain-chronic-primary-pain-chronic-secondary-pain-or-both  
 

Posted by Peng Zhang. Posted In : News & research 

 

Acupuncture for Long Covid - Case 2

February 8, 2021
49-year-old Andrea caught Covid-19 in March. She had a history of asthma for many years. When Covid hit her, the symptoms  were mainly in her respiratory system. She had bad cough with phlegm, short breath with wheezing, high temperature and extreme fatigue. The symptoms stabilized after a month's treatment of antibiotics and steroid. But six months on, the lung  infection and fatigue were still stopping her from living a normal life. At the time when she came to see me, she was  coughing and...
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Posted by Peng Zhang. Posted In : Respiratory system 

 

Acupuncture for Long Covid - Case 1

November 20, 2020

Chris, a 33-year-old strong-built man, caught Covid-19 in April 2020. He had fever for a week followed by a pain in his right calf and heel, which then came on in his other leg and spread to the whole body accompanied by joint stiffness. He  lost his energy and couldn't work until a few months later when the symptoms eased. Six months on, his calves were still hurting and affecting his walking, so he came to see me. On examination, his legs were slightly swollen and his calves and right heel ...


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Posted by Peng Zhang. Posted In : Muscular-skeletal system 

 

Commonly used treatments for chronic pain can do more harm than good and should not be used, says NICE in draft guidance

August 11, 2020
Acupuncture is recommended as an option for some people with chronic primary pain, provided it is delivered within certain, clearly defined parameters.
https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/commonly-used-treatments-for-chronic-pain-can-do-more-harm-than-good-and-should-not-be-used-says-nice-in-draft-guidance

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Posted by Peng Zhang. Posted In : News & research 

 

Clinics Reopen

June 11, 2020
Dear clients,

Both of our clinics in Penrith and Workington are now open. To manage the transmission risk of Covid-19, we are only arranging appointments over the phone at this stage. On the call we will do a risk assessment for Covid-19, and between each appointment we will carry out proper cleaning for treatment rooms and facilities. We will be using face coverings during treatment. Appointments will be spaced out to avoid contact between patients.

When you arrive for your appointment please...
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Posted by Peng Zhang.

 

Acupuncture for Trigeminal Neuralgia - Case 2

February 27, 2020

Jean, 80-year-old farmer's wife, suddenly started getting a terrible pain on the right side of her face. She had unpredictable attacks of intense, electric shock-like pain, which would last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Sometimes a light touch on the right side of her nose could trigger the pain. Her doctor believed it was trigeminal neuralgia, which could be related with her long standing condition of multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, trigeminal neuralgia is most often caused by damage ...


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Posted by Peng Zhang. Posted In : Nervous system 

 
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