Natural Pain Relief for Knee Pain

Seattle, Tacoma & Bellevue Clinics

From acute injury to chronic or arthritic knee pain, acupuncture is an effect tool to manage and resolve pain naturally.

know how important a well functioning knee is. And if your knees hurt just getting around, how can you do the activities you love? Many of our patients experience daily knee pain - from stiffness in the morning to debilitating pain that lasts all day. Luckily acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in treating knee pain. Why? Acupuncture not only helps the body release internal opioids (aka the body’s own painkillers), but also helps to increase blood flow to painful areas, helping damaged tissues recover.

Acupuncture for Knee Pain

Apart from treating osteoarthritis of the knee, our practitioners are also skilled in using acupuncture to treat acute sports injuries, such as ACL, MCL, and meniscus tears. Many patients receive acupuncture directly after injury to minimize pain and swelling, and throughout the recovery process to encourage tissue regrowth and joint mobility.

If surgery is necessary - from fixing a tear to a full knee replacement - acupuncture, moxa, and Chinese herbs can be a key part of the recovery process. These modalities work well alongside physical therapy and other post-op modalities to help you get back to the activities you love.

Research

A recent study showed that acupuncture was more effective in decreasing pain and swelling in osteoarthritis patients than Ibuprofen. The side effects of acupuncture are also minimal when compared to the damaging results of chronic NSAID use. Here is a review of the wide body of research done with acupuncture treating knee pain:

Acupuncture and Osteoarthritis of the Knee – A Review of Randomized, Controlled Trials “Ten trials representing 1456 participants met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. These studies provide evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain and physical dysfunction associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.” Conclusion: Acupuncture Reduces Knee Pain.

Types of knee pain treated by acupuncture:

  • Osteoarthritis of the knee  
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • ACL, MCL, or Meniscus tears
  • Chronic knee pain due to overuse
  • Runners knee
  • Bakers cyst
  • Bursitis
  • Patellar tendonitis

Natural pain management with acupuncture in Seattle, Tacoma & Bellevue:

I have come to Natalie for help with knee pain from playing basketball and digestive problems. Natalie has used acupuncture and herbs to relieve all of these issues at various points.
The beneficial effect of acupuncture has gone beyond greatly reducing the eczema. It has eliminated a lower back ailment, reduced the pain from arthritis in both knees, and increased my overall level of energy. There are other subtle psychological benefits – perhaps a result from being freed from the constant aches; perhaps from the “energy realignment” about which I have heard but which I do not pretend to comprehend. I do understand the good results.