Parkinson's and Pain and Traditional Chinese Medicine

It's Parkinson's Awareness Month!

Nearly one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease.  Up to 85% of people with Parkinson’s report pain as a major complaint.  In Parkinson’s, most pain is a result of injured tissue from persistent tremor, muscle rigidity, dystonia, or musculoskeletal injury.

Untreated pain can interfere with daily activities and quality of life.  The level of pain a person feels is influenced by emotional factors, how he or she views the pain, and how he or she pays attention to it.  Feeling helpless, or reacting to pain with a high level of stress, can worsen pain.
  
The best pain management choice includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.  Traditional Chinese medicine treatments are one of many options to choose from.  Not only can acupuncture and herbal medicine decrease muscle tension, but it also helps with factors that compound pain, such as poor sleep, depression, or anxiety.

Source: Parkinson’s Disease Foundation