Acupuncture For Chronic Pain

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting. When pain continues for months or years, it can affect much more than the part of your body that hurts. Sleep, work, physical activity and everyday routines can become more difficult, sometimes in ways that other people don't readily understand.

Some people know where their pain began or have a clear diagnosis. Others have had investigations, tried different treatments and spoken with several healthcare practitioners without finding a straightforward explanation for their symptoms. That uncertainty can be frustrating, particularly when pain continues to interfere with the things you want or need to do.

I'm Michael Warren, a registered acupuncturist with over 15 years of clinical experience. At Coburg Chinese Medicine, I offer individual consultations for people considering acupuncture for chronic or persistent pain.

My clinic is at 197 Sydney Road, Coburg, welcoming people from Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, Preston, Fawkner, Reservoir and surrounding northern Melbourne suburbs, as well as elsewhere in Melbourne.

My approach is to understand your circumstances, what you've already tried and what's important to you, then discuss how acupuncture may fit into your healthcare.

Book an Acupuncture Consultation

Understanding chronic and persistent pain

Chronic pain generally refers to pain that continues or recurs for more than three months. It's sometimes called persistent pain and may continue beyond the expected healing time of an injury.

Some people experience ongoing back or neck discomfort, recurring headaches or joint pain. Others have pain affecting several areas of the body, symptoms that fluctuate, or pain associated with a diagnosed medical condition.

Pain doesn't always correspond neatly with findings on scans or other investigations. Sometimes changes in how the nervous system processes pain contribute to ongoing symptoms; in other cases, inflammation, tissue problems or several factors may be involved.

Sleep, stress, physical activity and general health can also influence someone's experience of pain. That doesn't mean pain is imaginary or simply caused by stress. Persistent pain is often more complex than a single injured muscle or joint.

My approach to chronic pain at Coburg Chinese Medicine

When you come to see me, I want to understand how pain is affecting your life, not just where it hurts.

We'll discuss how long you've had symptoms, any relevant diagnoses or investigations, treatments you've already tried and healthcare you're currently receiving. I'll also ask about your work, sleep, physical activity and what you're hoping to achieve.

For one person, the priority might be getting through a workday more comfortably. For another, it could be maintaining exercise, managing household activities or finding an approach that fits alongside a complex medical condition.

Where appropriate, an examination may help inform our discussion or identify whether further medical assessment would be useful. I'll explain the acupuncture approach I'm considering, what to expect and any relevant precautions.

I'll also explain the risks associated with treatment. Acupuncture can cause temporary soreness, bruising or minor bleeding, and although uncommon, more serious complications are possible.

I believe it's important to work with your wider healthcare rather than treat acupuncture as an isolated solution. If you're seeing a GP, physiotherapist, pain specialist or another practitioner, I'll take that into account and, with your consent, communicate with them where useful.

As the sole practitioner at Coburg Chinese Medicine, you'll see me throughout your care. There are no compulsory treatment packages, and we'll review whether further appointments are appropriate as we go.

Book Your Acupuncture Appointment

Different experiences of chronic and persistent pain

Chronic pain isn't limited to injuries involving muscles or joints. It can be associated with a wide range of health conditions, and people's experiences can be very different.

Some people live with longstanding back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder discomfort, or recurring headaches and migraine. Others experience widespread pain associated with fibromyalgia, or persistent joint and musculoskeletal pain associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders.

These conditions have different underlying causes and healthcare needs. Symptoms such as fatigue, disturbed sleep or joint instability may also need to be considered when discussing care.

Acupuncture has been studied for several types of chronic pain, particularly non-specific musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain. The findings for these conditions cannot automatically be applied to fibromyalgia, EDS or hypermobility disorders.

My approach is to understand your particular circumstances, any existing diagnosis and the healthcare you're already receiving, then discuss whether acupuncture may have an appropriate role alongside that care.

For more information about particular complaints, you can read my Back Pain, Neck and Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain and Migraine and Headache pages.

Pain, stress, sleep and physical activity

Pain and everyday life can influence one another. When pain disrupts sleep, affects concentration or makes physical activity difficult, managing daily responsibilities can become considerably harder.

Some people notice that their symptoms are worse during periods of stress. Stress can influence muscle tension and how the nervous system responds to pain, while living with ongoing pain can itself be a significant source of stress.

Recognising those relationships doesn't mean pain is psychological. It means looking at the wider circumstances that may influence someone's experience.

I'm a strong advocate for maintaining physical activity and strength where appropriate, while recognising that people's capabilities vary. For some, this may mean modifying activities, pacing themselves or gradually increasing movement. Others may need structured rehabilitation or advice from a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist or another healthcare professional.

My aim is to provide practical advice within my professional scope and help you make informed decisions about your healthcare.

Considering acupuncture when you've had pain for years

If you've lived with persistent pain for a long time, you may already have invested considerable time, energy and money in different treatments.

I don't think it's helpful to assume everyone needs the same approach, or that another course of treatment is automatically the answer.

We'll discuss your previous experiences, what you're hoping to achieve and how we might assess whether acupuncture is a reasonable option. If we proceed, we'll review your circumstances rather than assume you need a predetermined number of visits.

You can read more about my wider approach on the Managing Pain & Injury page.

Chronic pain acupuncture in Coburg and Melbourne's northern suburbs

Coburg Chinese Medicine is an independently operated clinic at 197 Sydney Road, Coburg VIC 3058.

I welcome people from Brunswick, Coburg North, Pascoe Vale, Pascoe Vale South, Preston, Thornbury, Fawkner, Glenroy, Reservoir and surrounding suburbs, as well as people travelling from elsewhere in Melbourne.

As a single-practitioner clinic, I aim to keep consultation fees accessible while providing individual appointments.

You can find current costs and appointment availability on my Fees & Opening Hours page.

Frequently asked questions

Can acupuncture help with chronic pain?

Acupuncture has been studied for several chronic pain conditions, including non-specific musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain. Research suggests it may assist with pain management for some people, although the strength of evidence and likely benefits vary between conditions.

Acupuncture isn't a cure for every form of chronic pain, and individual outcomes can't be guaranteed. During your consultation, we can discuss the evidence relevant to your circumstances and how acupuncture may fit alongside your existing healthcare.

What happens at my first acupuncture appointment?

We'll discuss your symptoms, medical history, previous investigations and treatments, and how persistent pain affects your everyday life. I'll explain my assessment, any relevant precautions and the approach I'm considering before we decide whether to proceed.

Can I book if I've had pain for years?

Yes. You're welcome to arrange an appointment even if your symptoms have been present for a long time. We'll consider your medical history, previous care and current priorities.

Can I have acupuncture while seeing my GP, physiotherapist or pain specialist?

Acupuncture may be considered alongside other healthcare, depending on your circumstances. I'll ask about your existing treatment and any relevant precautions, and can communicate with your other practitioners with your consent where appropriate.

How many appointments will I need?

There's no fixed number suitable for everybody. We'll discuss your circumstances and review whether further appointments make sense, without requiring you to commit to a treatment package.

When persistent pain needs medical assessment

Chronic pain deserves appropriate medical assessment, particularly if symptoms are new, changing, worsening or haven't been adequately investigated.

New or progressive weakness, significant loss of sensation, unexplained fever or concerning neurological symptoms need medical assessment. Sudden neurological changes, or new bladder or bowel dysfunction associated with back pain, may require emergency care.

Acupuncture shouldn't delay investigation or treatment of a potentially serious condition.

Research and clinical evidence

Acupuncture has been investigated in clinical trials and systematic reviews for several chronic pain conditions.

An updated individual-patient-data meta-analysis by Vickers and colleagues, published in 2018, included 39 trials involving 20,827 participants. It examined non-specific musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain, reporting better average outcomes with acupuncture than sham acupuncture or no-acupuncture controls.

The differences compared with sham acupuncture were relatively modest, and these results don't mean acupuncture works for everyone or that the evidence applies equally to all causes of persistent pain.

Clinical guidelines also differ between conditions. For example, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends considering a limited course of acupuncture in certain circumstances for chronic primary pain, while its separate guidance does not recommend acupuncture for low back pain or sciatica.

For me, these differences reinforce the importance of discussing the particular condition, the available evidence and the other healthcare options appropriate to each person.

Book an acupuncture consultation for chronic pain in Melbourne

If you've been living with persistent pain and would like to discuss acupuncture as one possible part of your healthcare, you're welcome to arrange an appointment at Coburg Chinese Medicine.

I'll take the time to understand your circumstances, consider what you've already tried and explain my approach, so you can make an informed decision about your care.

Book an Acupuncture Consultation

References

• Healthdirect Australia — Chronic Pain

• Healthdirect Australia — Fibromyalgia

• Healthdirect Australia — Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

• Vickers et al. (2018) — Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

• NICE — Chronic Pain (Primary and Secondary) in Over 16s, NG193

• NICE — Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s, NG59

• Ahpra — Check Your Advertising: Chinese Medicine Examples

• Ahpra — Guidelines for Advertising a Regulated Health Service

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