Acupuncture is an effective pain management tool, so much so that SKH has been providing this service alongside mainstream medical treatment to help patients with lower back and neck pain.
It might seem unusual to see traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) being practised in a hospital, but this should not be surprising. After all, with its long history, TCM offers benefits that have been proven effective by Western scientific methods.
One area where TCM, notably acupuncture, excels in is pain management. “Most patients come to us to explore alternative pain management treatments,” says Ms Adele Lau, Senior Acupuncturist, Department of Anaesthesiology, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH).
Acupuncture, a type of TCM treatment, comprises moxibustion and needling. The latter involves stimulating specific points on the body, often by inserting fine needles. In a hospital, acupuncture services complement conventional Western medicine as a pain management tool. Currently, only needling, not moxibustion, is offered at public hospitals.
Ms Lau shares that many of her patients suffer from lower back and neck pain, caused by degenerative spinal conditions or muscular strains. She advises, “There is no specific urgency to start acupuncture for lower back and neck pain. It’s best to first see a doctor, who can determine if the pain requires urgent investigation and intervention.”
She stresses that acupuncture for degenerative conditions is usually used for pain management — it does not cure these conditions. When pain is better controlled, patients can enjoy an improved quality of life, often supported with other treatments like physiotherapy. “Depending on treatment goals, acupuncture can be considered as a primary treatment, or as a supplement to standard care. In the hospital setting, acupuncture is usually a supplementary treatment,” she clarifies.
Acupuncture is generally safe, and care will be taken to minimise discomfort and complications. “Most patients feel minimal to no pain, and liken the needling sensation to an ant bite,” she describes. “When the needles are inserted, the acupuncturist may manipulate them to give rise to a deqi（得气）sensation, which the patient may feel as a dull ache, heaviness or conduction in a certain direction at times.”
Responses to acupuncture vary. Some patients experience improvement immediately or within a few days, while others may not respond at all, shares Ms Lau. Complex or chronic conditions usually require more sessions before benefits become noticeable. The duration of pain relief also varies widely, but for degenerative conditions without other interventions, it typically lasts a week.
In general, acupuncture is suitable for people who can tolerate needling and comply with instructions, such as to remain still during the treatment. This is why it is not performed on young children, infants, or patients with delirium.
Other factors that affect the suitability of acupuncture on a patient are:
A treatment course consists of 5–10 acupuncture sessions spread over several weeks. Ms Lau explains, “The treatment frequency and length depend on the type, severity, and complexity of your condition(s) and your individual response to acupuncture. The acupuncturist will assess your suitability for the treatment and advise you on a suitable plan.”
Possible risks include:
Ms Lau assures that these symptoms are usually mild and temporary, and do not result in any permanent adverse effects. “There are some other risks associated with acupuncture that your acupuncturist will be able to explain to you in greater detail,” she advises.
Complications are rare, she adds. In the event of any adverse reactions during treatment, patients will be promptly referred to the hospital for further management.
Ms Lau advises those suffering from lower back and neck pain to first consult a doctor. This is to rule out serious causes and initiate timely investigations and treatment. For chronic pain, she recommends adopting a whole-person approach that considers physical, mental, and social factors. She shares the following alternative treatments and lifestyle modifications:
Ms Lau encourages patients to discuss the above options in detail with their acupuncturist or doctor.
Referrals are required by all public hospitals to ensure patients are suitable candidates for acupuncture. The acupuncturists will also review the referrals to further assess suitability.
At SKH, patients are referred to the hospital by their specialists who are managing their lower back and neck pain. Our specialists typically recommend acupuncture as part of their holistic management, particularly for patients who prefer conservative treatment.
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