Acupuncture can be effective for treating knee pain in Acute and Chronic situations. Research has shown that acupuncture may provide relief from knee pain.

Many of the world’s population suffer from various kinds of knee pain. Treatment options tend to be surgery, medications that have side effects, or take too long physical therapy). Research has shown that acupuncture may provide shorter- as well as longer-term relief from knee pain.

How Acupuncture can help Knee pain

Traditional Five Element Acupuncture can help with many sources of knee pain, reducing inflammation, and helping with the recovery of damaged tissue. Also, helping with osteoarthritis to reduce pain and inflammation, and if you do have surgery, acupuncture can help you recover.

Throughout your system there are acupuncture points that are connected via different pathways and meridians. Your acupuncturist will choose various points based on your symptoms and constitution. By doing so, acupuncture can facilitate the free flow of Qi (energy), alleviate pain and swelling, and give the knee and the tissues around it their natural range of motion and functionality. 

Acupuncture needles are positioned to help reduce swelling, promote blood flow, and loosen tight muscles. The sensations also send signals from the spinal cord to the brain to release endorphins and enkephalins – the body’s natural painkillers. Cortisol (a hormone that helps regulate inflammation) is also produced.

Holistic Treatment

Traditional Five Element Acupuncture treats you as a whole, understanding how your knee pain can affect other parts of your Body, Mind and Spirit. Knee pain can cause hip and back pain. You may become stressed or unhappy because of how the pain has impacted your life, with mobility, sport and exercise, work, sleep and day-to-day tasks becoming challenging. Traditional Five Element Acupuncture is a treatment to help your whole system and help you get through your pain and difficulties.

My Knee Pain

To put a personal note on knee pain, a few years ago, my meniscus had a tear (knee cartilage damage) on my right knee spontaneously ruptured. This was a sudden onset of agonising pain. Yes, I did take painkillers at the onset, but acupuncture treatment helped my knee heal and avoid surgery.

Investigations

It is always advisable to get investigations to find the cause of your knee pain. It may be challenging to get these sorted, but it is worth it to know your knee health. Your Traditional Five Element Acupuncturist will examine your knees and structure and support you and your system to get through the challenges of diagnosis and treatment.

Acupuncture Treatment for you

For treatment and information, contact Hannah Charles Lic Ac MBAcC – Traditional Five Element Acupuncturist on –https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/

Hannah is a founder member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)

The BAcC is an advocate on behalf of Traditional Acupuncture professionals and maintains the highest professional standards to protect the general public. BAcC members belong to an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). For More information, see the website –https://acupuncture.org.uk/

Acupuncture Research for Knee Pain

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33101577/

Symptoms of Knee Pain

Depending on the underlying source of the issue, the site and intensity of knee pain may differ. Symptoms that can go together with knee pain include:

• Swelling, stiffness, and numbness around the knee
• Weakness of the knee
• Warmth or redness throughout the knee
• Unusual sounds (popping or clicking) when flexing or straightening the knee
• Inability to bend or straighten the knee or to stand properly

Types of Knee Pain

There are many reasons for Knee Pain

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Ligament injuries and damage
• Kneecap issues
• Baker’s cyst
• Tendonitis in the surrounding muscles
• Nerve entrapment
• Cartilage issues
• Bone breaks

Types of Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. The wear-and-tear ailment that develops when your knee cartilage ages and deteriorates from use.
•  Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that can damage virtually any joint, including your knees. Its severity can vary and occasionally flare up even though it is a chronic condition.
• Septic arthritis. Infection migrates from another part of your body through your blood to your knee joint and infects it.
• Gout. This condition occurs when high levels of uric acid crystals to accumulate in a joint. It most frequently affects the big toe, although it can also happen in the knee.
• Pseudogout. This is sometimes confused with gout. It is brought on by calcium-containing crystals that form in the synovial fluid. It most frequently affects the knees.

Increased Risk for  Knee Pain

Several risk factors can increase your risk of experiencing knee issues, such as:

• High weightputs more strain on your knee joints, even during routine activities like walking or climbing stairs. It also hastens the degeneration of your joint cartilage, increasing your risk of osteoarthritis.
• Past knee injury. A past knee injury raises your risk of suffering another knee injury.
• Certain sports.Your knees are more likely to be strained during some sports than others. These include activities like football, running, running, tennis, squash and skiing, which involve sudden stops, twists, turns and pounding of the joints.
• Specific jobs. Occupations that put repetitive tension on the knees, such as housekeeping, farming, and construction, can increase your risk. They require a lot of bending, crouching, standing, lifting, and stair climbing.
• Muscular strength or flexibility. Your joints are stabilised and protected by strong muscles. Muscular power and flexibility are needed to sustain your entire mobility range safely.

Eating for Knee Pain

Foods to Eat

Below are healthy foods that may help ease your knee pain:

• Dark Leafy Greens: broccoli, kale, spinach, and collard greens. They help your body make collagen, a crucial component of cartilage that supports joint flexibility. 
• Fatty Fish: mackerel, salmon, and tuna. They help reduce inflammation.
• Berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. They are rich in antioxidants, which can help fight and reduce inflammation. 
• Nuts:almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts. They are rich in fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, and other anti-inflammatory nutrients.
• Garlic and Onions: They have anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce the discomfort associated with some types of arthritis. Plus, they are well known for enhancing immunity.
• Green Tea:This beverage contains a natural antioxidant that inhibits the body’s ability to produce specific inflammatory molecules, particularly those linked to arthritis. Additionally, it can help delay cartilage degeneration, extending the joints’ lifespan.

Foods to avoid

The following are foods to avoid because they can exacerbate your knee pain:

• Sugar – white bread, cereals, pasta, puddings, cakes, soda, and fruit juices. They can increase inflammation.
• High Salt –  Processed, prepackaged, and frozen foods. They can trigger joint swelling and worsen knee pain.
• Omega-6 fatty acids – corn, sunflower, and vegetable oils. They can accelerate the production of inflammatory chemicals. 
• Saturated fats: baked and processed foods. They can trigger inflammation.

Acupuncture can Help Knee Pain

For acupuncture, contact Hannah Charles on – https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/