MELBOURNE PAIN MANAGEMENT ACUPUNCTURE & INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTRE
Pain Management
freedom without pain
Nerve Pain • Chronic Pain
How does acupuncture help pain management?
Regulates pain pathways
Stimulates neural activity to desensitise pain signals
Releases endorphins
Stimulates the nervous system to release the the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals
Improves circulation
Increases blood flow to rehabilitate muscles, joints, ligaments, bones and nerves
Regulates pain pathways
Stimulates neural activity to desensitise pain signals
Releases endorphins
Stimulates the nervous system to release the the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals
Improves circulation
Increases blood flow to rehabilitate muscles, joints, ligaments, bones and nerves
Take the pain away naturally
Once structural functionality is restored you can regain independence
Take the pain away naturally
Once structural functionality is restored you can regain independence
Acupuncture may help many pain conditions
Explore more of the conditions we treat
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is characterised by painful and limited range of movement in the shoulder.
Approximately 70% of individuals that present with frozen shoulder are women between the ages of 35-65 years old.
In China and Japan, it is called the 50 year old shoulder due to its prevalence around that age.
There is an inflammatory component in the development of frozen shoulder, which leads to scarring of the structures in the joint.
Chinese Medicine may assist by:
- Potentially reducing joint rigidity
- Possibly alleviating pain through the stimulation of neural pathways in the nervous system
- Potentially providing immediate pain relief by stimulating neural pathways, as indicated by fMRI studies
“Research suggests that "Acupuncture may cause an improvement in movements of the shoulder in patients suffering from frozen shoulder" - Journal of the Academy of Medical Sciences”
- Journal of the Academy of Medical Sciences
1. Schröder, S., Meyer-Hamme, G., Friedemann, T., Kirch, S., Hauck, M., Plaetke, R., Friedrichs, S., Gulati, A. and Briem, D., 2017. Immediate Pain Relief in Adhesive Capsulitis by Acupuncture—A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Study. Pain Medicine, 18(11), pp.2235-2247.
Nerve pain or neuropathy is when there is direct damage or irritation to a nerve.
It is likely to be nerve pain if it feels like burning, stabbing, tingly, shooting or numb.
There can be a range of causes for nerve pain such as chemotherapy, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, disc herniations and even as a side effect of some drugs.
And oftentimes there is no obvious cause.
Chinese Medicine assists by:
- Stimulating damaged nerve fibres
- Regulating the central nervous system to moderate the pain centres of the brain
- Enabling the body’s pain inhibitory pathways
“Which indicates reduction in neuropathic pain symptoms after acupuncture treatment”
- Integrative Cancer Therapies
1. Zhi, W., Ingram, E., Li, S., Chen, P., Piulson, L. and Bao, T., 2018. Acupuncture for Bortezomib-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Not Just for Pain. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17(4), pp.1079-1086.
2. Ju, Z., Wang, K., Cui, H., Yao, Y., Liu, S., Zhou, J., Chen, T. and Xia, J., 2016. Acupuncture for neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,.
The shoulder joint has one of the most freedom of movement in the body, however that comes at the expense of stability.
And it is this intricate structural design of the shoulder that allows it a great deal of mobility that also causes it to be susceptible to dysfunction.
Chinese Medicine assists by:
- Reducing inflammation
- Releasing the body’s natural pain killers
- Improving circulation to the shoulder to promote rehabilitation
“Conventional acupuncture alone results in relative improvements in painful conditions in shoulder pain patients; combined interventions may have more global effects”
- Journal of Pain Research
1. Shi, G., Liu, B., Wang, J., Fu, Q., Sun, S., Liang, R., Li, J., Tu, J., Tan, C. and Liu, C., 2018. Motion style acupuncture therapy for shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pain Research, Volume 11, pp.2039-2050.
Recovery from surgery often involves postoperative pain, which can delay healing and be very uncomfortable. Acute pain after surgery is quite common.
At our clinic, we aim to minimize postoperative discomfort through customised acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal medicine.
Rather than relying solely on pain medications like opioids, we use a holistic approach to manage pain after surgery.
Our licensed acupuncturists develop integrated treatment plans that incorporate acupuncture, cupping, herbal formulas, and other drug-free techniques designed to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, alleviate nausea, and accelerate recovery.
Acupuncture may help provide pain relief by stimulating neural pathways and activating the body's natural healing abilities. Techniques like electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture are commonly used for postoperative pain management.
We believe integrating acupuncture and Chinese medicine into surgical aftercare offers patients safe, natural pain relief as part of a multi-modal recovery plan.
Please consult your surgeon about including acupuncture alongside other pain management approaches during your postoperative recovery.
Postoperative pain from surgical trauma that affects about 75% of patients following surgery.
The main treatment is using opioids such as morphine and fentanyl.
However these drugs are associated with a number of side effects that can delay patient recovery, including nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness.
Chinese Medicine is often used to treat pain and is safe without side effects.
Chinese Medicine assists by:
- Relieving post-operative pain by stimulating neural pathways
- Reducing opioid use
- Activating self healing mechanisms
“Electrotherapy and acupuncture are known to reduce postoperative pain”(1)
- JAMA Surgery Journal
1. Tedesco, D., Gori, D., Desai, K., Asch, S., Carroll, I., Curtin, C., McDonald, K., Fantini, M. and Hernandez-Boussard, T., 2017. Drug-Free Interventions to Reduce Pain or Opioid Consumption After Total Knee Arthroplasty. JAMA Surgery, 152(10), p.e172872.
2. Wu, M., Chen, K., Chen, I., Huang, S., Tzeng, P., Yeh, M., Lee, F., Lin, J. and Chen, C., 2016. The Efficacy of Acupuncture in Post-Operative Pain Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE, 11(3), p.e0150367.
Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to help manage tumour-related pain as well as joint and muscle pain without reliance on pharmaceutical drugs or invasive procedures.
Techniques such as acupuncture may stimulate natural pain-relief pathways in the body and alter pain signalling through the central nervous system.
At our clinic, we use customised Chinese medicine protocols aimed at reducing nerve sensitivity, modulating pain through the central nervous system, and stimulating damaged nerve fibers.
Our drug-free therapies provide safe, non-invasive pain relief designed to enhance conventional approaches.
Please speak with our team about integrating Chinese medicine into your pain management plan
Pain is a commonly associated symptom of cancer and for many survivors it can be long-term.
Cancer pain comes in different forms such as post surgical pain, nerve pain and pain from cancer therapy.
Chinese Medicine offers a non-invasive, opioid and anti-inflammatory drug-free approach to manage tumour-related pain and joint and muscle pain.
Chinese Medicine assists by:
- Stimulating damaged nerve fibres
- Modulating pain via the central nervous system
- Reducing nerve sensitivity
“Acupuncture plus drug therapy is more effective than conventional drug therapy alone for cancer-related pain”
- Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
1. Hu, C., Zhang, H., Wu, W., Yu, W., Li, Y., Bai, J., Luo, B. and Li, S., 2016. Acupuncture for Pain Management in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,.
2. Deng, G., Bao, T. and Mao, J., 2018. Understanding the Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment for Cancer Pain Management. Oncology Journal,.
3. Wang, J., Lei, Y., Bao, B., Yu, X., Dai, H., Chen, F., Li, H. and Wang, B., 2019. Acupuncture for pain caused by prostate cancer. Medicine, 98(2), p.e13954.
Opioid addiction and dependency pose substantial health risks that are important to address.
At Sustain Health, we use a holistic Chinese medicine approach to support addiction treatment and recovery.
Customised acupuncture and herbal formulas aim to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and address underlying imbalances.
We focus on normalising neurotransmitters, minimising stress triggers, and regulating the body's systems.
Our drug-free therapies are designed to be integrated with conventional treatment to optimise outcomes.
Please speak with our team about including Chinese medicine in your recovery plan.
Opioid dependency and addiction has a high risk of mortality and morbidity.
In 1996, the World Health Organization accepted acupuncture as a treatment for drug abuse. There are numerous treatment protocols developed for addiction.
Chinese Medicine has a focus on managing withdrawal symptoms as well as alleviating any negative effects on the body.
Chinese Medicine assists by:
- Regulating neurotransmitters responsible that mediate substance abuse
- Reducing stress induced relapse
- Reducing severity of withdrawal symptoms
“The severity of withdrawal symptoms declined when acupuncture was used”
- Biomed Central Journal
1. Hernandez-Boussard, T., Gori, D. and Tedesco, D., 2018. Evidence of Drug-Free Interventions for Postoperative Pain Management After Total Knee Arthroplasty—Reply. JAMA Surgery, 153(4), p.392.
2. Tedesco, D., Gori, D., Desai, K., Asch, S., Carroll, I., Curtin, C., McDonald, K., Fantini, M. and Hernandez-Boussard, T., 2017. Drug-Free Interventions to Reduce Pain or Opioid Consumption After Total Knee Arthroplasty. JAMA Surgery, 152(10), p.e172872.
3. Motlagh, F., Ibrahim, F., Rashid, R., Seghatoleslam, T. and Habil, H., 2016. Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction. Chinese Medicine, 11(1).
Being pain free so you can focus on what is important
Once structural functionality is restored you can regain independence
Your first visit is a 60 minute initial consultation, acupuncture teatment, & personalised herbal formula.
Being pain free so you can focus on what is important
Once structural functionality is restored you can regain independence
Your first visit is a 60 minute initial consultation, acupuncture teatment, & personalised herbal formula.
Our Team
We are a passionate team of licensed Acupuncturists, Herbalists & Chiropractors
We also run Sustain Health Academy, which brings in top minds in Chinese medicine from around the world to Australia to teach.