Village Doctor Opens Door to Readers

Photo by Brenda Tredwell

Having spent many years at sea as a Naval Officer, Winter Harbor physician Dr. Benjamin Newman has announced he will be responding to medical questions from readers in the Fishermen’s Voice. Dr. Newman has taken care of sailors for years and will continue to do so through this monthly column.

Acupuncture For Pain Management
I know of no other occupation that has more aches and pains than fishermen, including:

• Low back pain
• Sciatica
• Bursitis of the shoulders
• Arthritic hips and knees
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic headaches
• Sinus pain
• Chronic fatigue

What are the treatment options available for most of the above ailments?
Usually we prescribe pain medicine in the ibuprofen family, known as NSAIDs.

How do we normally treat these conditions?
First, your doctor might start by giving you a drug in the Ibuprofen class which is usually effective, but can cause serious side effects such as ulcers, kidney disease, liver disease and make high blood pressure worse. Often, a muscle relaxant will be added which is generally ineffective and makes many people very tired. Stepping up the treatment, a narcotic may be added such as OxyContin (remember, Maine is the OxyContin capital of the world). OxyContin is only effective for the short-term, but the price you pay for being addicted and sedated is great. All of the above, except for Ibuprofen, should not be taken while you are out to sea operating your boat, as it can interfere with your coordination and alertness. You might ask, what would be the alternative? And this is the basis of this month’s article.

Acupuncture is a very good alternative for pain management that is supported by the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization. There is an abundance of scientific evidence that tells us that acupuncture is an effective and safe tool in treating pain.

As a Harvard trained acupuncturist, I can attest first hand to the effectiveness of this modality in treating most painful conditions. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing chemicals and to improve functioning. The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal chord and brain. These chemicals will influence the body’s own internal regulating system. Acupuncture is an extremely old practice of medicine dating back 3,000 years. Though it is considered complementary medicine in the United States, it is mainstream medicine in most parts of the world. Acupuncture is particularly useful in resolving physical problems that are related to tension, stress and emotional conditions. The most common questions about acupuncture are:

1. How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments needed differ from person to person. For complex or long-standing conditions, one or two treatments a week for several months may be needed. For acute problems usually fewer visits are required.

2. Are there any side effects of the treatment?
Occasionally the original symptoms may worsen for a few days after the first or second treatments, but this is considered a good sign, as it means the body is undergoing positive changes. It is quite common to have a sensation of deep relaxation immediately following the treatment. Some patients need to go home and take a nap for a half hour or so.

3. What are the needles like, do they hurt?
Most patients feel only minimal discomfort as the needles are inserted. Some patients never feel any discomfort at all. Acupunc- ture needles are very thin and solid and are made from stainless steel. The needles are sterilized and are disposed after the first treatment.

4. Does acupuncture really work?
Yes, in the past 3,000 years more people have been treated successfully with acupuncture that with all other health modalities combines. Acupuncture is practiced widely in Asia, Russia and Europe.

5. How long does an acupuncture treatment take?
The first treatment with consultation will usually take one hour and follow-up treatments usually take between 30 and 45 minutes.

Please feel free to email me with any questions that you may have about acupuncture.

REMEMBER, NO ONE CARES FOR YOU MORE THAN YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM!

Dr. Newman will answer medical questions for readers that are emailed or U.S. mailed to the Fishermen’s Voice.

Email: info@fishermensvoice.com Type Dr. Newman in the subject line.

U.S. Mail: The Fishermen’s Voice, P.O. Box 253, Gouldsboro, ME 04607, Attention: Dr. Benjamin Newman.