BATTLEFIELD ACUPUNCTURE
Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is a specialized auricular acupuncture protocol using 5 small, semi-permanent needles inserted into specific ear points to provide rapid, often immediate pain relief. Developed by Dr. Richard Niemtzow in 2001, this technique is widely used in VA and military settings as a drug-free alternative for treating acute and chronic pain.
Procedure: Up to 5 small, dart-like needles (semi-permanent) are placed in each ear.
Duration: Needles remain in place for 2 to 4 days, typically falling out on their own.
Effectiveness: 75% to 82% of people experience immediate pain reduction, though it is not a long-term fix.
Usage: It is used for both acute and chronic pain management, including headaches, low back pain, postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, headache, and phantom limb pain in amputees.
Side Effects: Minimal and temporary, including slight discomfort during insertion or while sleeping.
Benefits: It acts quickly to reduce pain and is used to decrease reliance on pain medications, including opioids.
DRY NEEDLING
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique used to treat trigger-point musculoskeletal pain by inserting thin filiform needles into myofascial trigger points (muscle spasms) to release muscle tension and improve mobility. It differs from acupuncture as it is based on Western medicine, targeting specific pain-producing spots rather than energy meridians. Can be used in combination with Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.