No one should have to live with pain. But which treatment is right for you?

One approach is to get plenty of bed rest in hopes that the pain will just disappear. This may help for a while, but could possibly delay recovery and make the problem worse.

Another choice is to take medication that dulls the pain for a short period of time. Taking medication is understandable when pain is constant and unbearable. It may be helpful to dull the symptoms, but it won't get at the root of the problem and correct it.

Surgery may be another option. At times, this approach may make sense, but it could be both expensive and risky, and there is no guarantee that it will be effective.

Acupuncture practitioners recognize that there is a vital energy, called Qi (pronounced "chee"), circulating within the body. Qi flows through a series of pathways called meridians. Meridians are like rivers within your body. Wherever a river flows, it brings with it water that provides nourishment and life to the land, plants and people around it.

Likwise, meridians transport life-giving Qi that provides nourishment to every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and gland in the body. It is important for qi to flow freely throughout the body. Think of water flowing through a garden hose. A blocked hose will not provide an adequate supply of water to a plant. Eventually, the plant will be unable to thrive, grow and blossom.

Similarly, a blockage in the flow of Qi anywhere in the body will inhibit the amount of nourishment that reaches our cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands.

Under normal circumstances, your body can easily return to good health and vitality. But if the disruption of Qi is prolonged or excessive, or if your body is in a weakened state, the flow of Qi becomes restricted and a variety of symptoms—including pain—may arise.

By inserting fine, sterile needles at specific points, an acupuncturist is able to break up blockages that have hampered the smooth flow of Qi. Once this is done, Qi can travel freely throughout the body, promoting pain-free health, well-being and vitality.

Not only can acupuncture treat signs and symptoms of pain and discomfort, it can also get to the root of the problem. When the initial cause of the pain is corrected, your body can begin to heal on deeper levels.

Your acupuncturist may also suggest adjunct therapies to enhance treatment and speed healing. Massage, stretching, yoga, herbal supplements and dietary changes support acupuncture care.