Acupuncture is recommended for pain
Recently, the CDC updated and expanded their Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, providing evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of acute, subacute, or chronic pain. The guidelines address using opioid, nonopioid and nonpharmacologic interventions, including acupuncture, for various types of pain. There are two overarching recommendations suggesting that nonopiod therapies be considered for pain before prescribing opioids:
"Nonopioid therapies are at least as effective as opioids for many common types of acute pain. Clinicians should maximize use of nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic therapies as appropriate for the specific condition and patient and only consider opioid therapy for acute pain if benefits are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient. Before prescribing opioid therapy for acute pain, clinicians should discuss with patients the realistic benefits and known risks of opioid therapy."
"Nonopioid therapies are preferred for subacute and chronic pain. Clinicians should maximize use of nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic therapies as appropriate for the specific condition and patient and only consider initiating opioid therapy if expected benefits for pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient."
Previous guidelines did not mention acupuncture. Now, the updated guidelines recommend acupuncture for:
Chronic low back pain
Chronic neck pain
Chronic fibromyalgia pain
In addition, The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends therapies such as acupuncture as a "cornerstone of treatment for acute low back pain."
The guidelines also recognize that acupuncture provides lasting results, and that it is a cost effective therapy.
Acupuncture improves pain and/or function for at least 1 month after treatment without apparent risk of serious harm for neck pain, low back pain and fibromyalgia
Acupuncture is a cost-effective intervention for low back pain, osteoarthritis and neck pain
Of course, these guidelines are not comprehensive for all types of pain—as they were specifically looking at the use of opioid and nonopioid therapies for a short list of conditions. If you experience pain that is not listed here, it does not mean that acupuncture won't work for you. Acupuncture is shown to be effective for many types of pain.
The good news is, acupuncture is becoming more and more recognized as an effective and cost-effective treatment, that can provide lasting results!