MILA MINTSIS · SEPTEMBER 04, 2023
This March I had the honor of being invited as the guest speaker at the EndoFound's 14th Annual Global Patient Symposium at the Lenox Hill Hospital. The Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound) was founded by the renowned surgeon Dr. Seckin and the Emmy nominated producer, activist and New York Times bestselling author Padma Lakshmi. The goal of the foundation is to increase advocacy, disease recognition, improve surgical training and fund research to help to improve early diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. I participated in the "Pain Management with Alternative Interventions" panel and discussed how acupuncture and dry needling can be useful modalities in managing symptoms of endometriosis.
First, it is important to emphasize that the only "treatment" for endometriosis is excision surgery. In this procedure, the endometrial lesions are excised from areas where they are often found, which are pelvic and abdominal cavities. However, pre- and post-surgically, or in cases where surgery is not recommended, other modalities of treatment are used to help to manage the symptoms.
Endometrial lesions usually produce pain and dysfunction in the organs or areas to which they attach. For example, lesions in the pelvis can lead to severe pelvic pain, bladder symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Chronic pain and dysfunction often lead to protective behaviors, which in turn cause myofascial restrictions and abnormalities, and that creates even more symptoms. In addition, endometrial lesions cause an inflammatory response in the body, which disrupts and upregulates the Central Nervous System. And this is when acupuncture comes in.
Acupuncture is useful for treatment of symptoms of endometriosis because of its ability to reduce pain and calm the nervous system. It has a local effect of increased circulation, muscle relaxation and reduction in inflammation. In addition, it has a systemic modulatory effect on the Central Nervous System and promotes the parasympathetic response, which helps to reduce central sensitization and pain.
Most importantly, acupuncture is that it is safe, appropriate for all age groups and stages of endometriosis and does not interfere with any other medical procedures or treatments.
#endometriosis #pelvicpain #acupuncture #dryneedling #dryneedlingNYC
First, it is important to emphasize that the only "treatment" for endometriosis is excision surgery. In this procedure, the endometrial lesions are excised from areas where they are often found, which are pelvic and abdominal cavities. However, pre- and post-surgically, or in cases where surgery is not recommended, other modalities of treatment are used to help to manage the symptoms.
Endometrial lesions usually produce pain and dysfunction in the organs or areas to which they attach. For example, lesions in the pelvis can lead to severe pelvic pain, bladder symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Chronic pain and dysfunction often lead to protective behaviors, which in turn cause myofascial restrictions and abnormalities, and that creates even more symptoms. In addition, endometrial lesions cause an inflammatory response in the body, which disrupts and upregulates the Central Nervous System. And this is when acupuncture comes in.
Acupuncture is useful for treatment of symptoms of endometriosis because of its ability to reduce pain and calm the nervous system. It has a local effect of increased circulation, muscle relaxation and reduction in inflammation. In addition, it has a systemic modulatory effect on the Central Nervous System and promotes the parasympathetic response, which helps to reduce central sensitization and pain.
Most importantly, acupuncture is that it is safe, appropriate for all age groups and stages of endometriosis and does not interfere with any other medical procedures or treatments.
#endometriosis #pelvicpain #acupuncture #dryneedling #dryneedlingNYC
