Is there any room for needles?

Seeing so many patients come in for pain relief even after joint replacements, I can't help telling my patients to try needles before knives. To carpenters, the job is all about hammer and nails. When dealing with joint problems, the surgeons tend to deal with chisels, knives, screws, and staples! As acupuncture has proved to be a very safe and effective healing method for acute and chronic injuries such as muscle sprains, ligamental tears, and even bone fractures. Now my patients are very happy and grateful that acupuncture can help with so many acute and chronic injuries which could have easily and readily been operated by surgeons. 

When you have to deal with injuries and pains in joints next time, please keep in mind that acupuncture might be the most effective yet the least invasive approach when compared to surgeries. Injuries can result in joint degeneration over time in most cases. However, surgeries are more likely to bring on the arthritis even faster. So if you have to face a joint fusion or replacement, you may want to give acupuncture a chance as it may relieve a lot of pain, improve quality of life while slowing down the progression, and postponing the replacement. 

Therefore, there is always room and time for needles before knives!

Frank He, L. Ac., QME, DAOM

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