Acupuncture for pelvic pain

Endometriosis New Zealand requested us to shoot a video on acupuncture for endometriosis/pelvic pain.

Transcript of the video:

Vitalis: My name is Vitalis. I’m an acupuncturist specialising in reproductive health, pain, stress, anxiety and depression.

Chetna: My name is Chetna. I was diagnosed with endometriosis eight years ago.

Vitalis: Endometriosis NZ asked us to shoot a video on the benefits of acupuncture for pelvic pain.

Chetna: I’ve managed my symptoms with a lot of medication; I’ve had two surgeries…

Vitalis: In recent years we have seen an increased interest in acupuncture for endometriosis, but some women and even some doctors remain apprehensive, thinking that maybe acupuncture doesn’t have scientific support. And this may have been the case not so long ago. But now the leading experts, the leading experts in reproductive health are seeing acupuncture in a new light.

Chetna: I think I have a high threshold [for pain]. Having had endometriosis and being able to deal
with everything that’s come along with that. But my pain got to such a level that I was taking pain medication three times a day for over two weeks at a time.
And these were the maximum prescribed drugs that the doctors could give me. Such as Naproxen, Codeine, Neurofen all of those didn’t do anything. And that was really troubling to me because it was no more that I could do with medicine really.

Vitalis: American Society of Medicine recommends acupuncture. We have endometriosis management consensus compiled by our NZ Professor Dr. Neil Johnson; again recommending acupuncture as an option for pelvic pain.

There is more to endometriosis than just pain: inflammation, some women experience bloating, IBS type symptoms, stress, anxiety, depression. When done correctly acupuncture can tackle multiple symptoms simultaneously. It will not cure endometriosis, no. But it may help you feel healthier and happier.

Chetna: And I have a real fear of needles.
So you can see the state I was in to actually make me look at acupuncture as an option…

Vitalis: I will mention one study from 2017.
That review found that acupuncture was more effective than pharmaceutical drugs like Zoladex. Women who had acupuncture found that it was better at reducing both pain and information.

All this doesn’t mean that you should stop your current treatment and have acupuncture instead. We like to combine things. We can integrate acupuncture into your current treatment plan.

Chetna: It helped me. I could not believe myself. I stopped taking the pain medication that I’d been on. And these were quite
strong pain medications not just Panadol.

Vitalis: This treatment is especially helpful when you’re looking for a more natural solution.Or when other options have
failed you. Some women have surgery and still experience the pain.
You can consider acupuncture either before surgery or after.

And when you’re trying to conceive and are worried about the effects of the drugs on the baby. Acupuncture is a safe option.

Chetna: I was able to stop taking the pain medication that
I was on. I was able to continue with my life really as if nothing had happened.

And I think that’s what that’s what you really want. Of course it doesn’t cure my endometriosis, but at least it helps me to manage it and to
live as normal life as I can.

Vitalis: To discover more how we can help in your situation leave a comment below this video or visit us at https://vitalis.co.nz

Thank you Endometriosis NZ for the opportunity and for the encouragement.

Thank YOU for researching acupuncture as an option.
Looking forward to hearing from you!