The TCM view
Traditional Chinese Medicine describes many pain presentations in terms of obstruction — Qi and Blood not moving freely through a region — and considers what's underneath it, such as cold, deficiency or chronic tension patterns.
Pain care
Pain care that looks past the place that hurts
Whether it's a new strain, a stubborn low back, arthritic knees or widespread pain that's been with you for years, pain affects sleep, mood, movement and everything in between. Acupuncture for pain has some of the strongest research support in the field.
Does this sound familiar?
What we hear from patients
- “I've been living with this pain for months.”
- “My back goes out every few weeks.”
- “I want options beyond more pain medication.”
- “My neck and shoulders are always tight from work.”
Concerns we commonly support
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Osteoarthritis and joint pain
- Sprains, strains and sports injuries
- Fibromyalgia and widespread pain
- Headaches and TMJ
- Post-surgical and recovery support (with clearance)
How Dr. Kristina explains it
You'll hear both the Traditional Chinese Medicine view and the familiar medical view, so you understand what we're doing and why.
The medical view
Research suggests acupuncture influences pain through nervous-system mechanisms, including local tissue effects, spinal signaling and central pain modulation. For chronic pain, effects in trials are typically larger than usual care and modestly larger than sham procedures.
Your care at Seven Medicine
How treatment is personalized
How long care usually takes
Acute issues may respond over a few visits. Chronic pain usually needs a more consistent series — often weekly to start — before evaluating response. We reassess and adjust rather than assume.
01
Local and whole-body points
Treatment addresses the painful area and the broader pattern — sleep, stress and guarding — that keeps pain going.
02
Adjunctive techniques
Cupping, gua sha, electro-acupuncture and heat may be added when they suit your presentation.
03
Movement and recovery guidance
Practical suggestions for rest, movement and ergonomics, coordinated with your physical therapist or physician when you have one.
04
Measured progress
We track pain, function and sleep so you and Dr. Kristina can see what's changing.
What a course of care can look like
Illustrative treatment journey
- Area of discomfort
- Fine needles at selected points
- Tension eases over the course of care
Treatment response varies. Your care plan is based on your symptoms, assessment and response over time. This is an illustration, not a medical image.
Research
What the research says
We summarize the highest-quality research we can find — systematic reviews, Cochrane reviews, guidelines and large trials — including results that don't favor acupuncture. You deserve the full picture.
Reviewed October 2026. Research describes groups of people, not guarantees for any individual. Explore the research →
Chronic pain
The largest analysis to date pooled individual data from 39 high-quality trials and more than 20,000 patients with back, neck, joint, headache and shoulder pain. Acupuncture outperformed both sham acupuncture and no acupuncture; the advantage over sham was small, the advantage over usual care larger, and benefits largely persisted for up to a year. The authors concluded referral for acupuncture is a reasonable option for chronic pain.
2 sources
- [1]Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. PubMed 29198932 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005 (opens in a new tab)· individual patient data meta-analysis
- [2]MacPherson H, Vertosick EA, Foster NE, et al. The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain. Pain. 2017;158(5):784-793. PubMed 27764035 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000747 (opens in a new tab)· individual patient data meta-analysis
Low back pain
The American College of Physicians' 2017 guideline lists acupuncture among the non-drug treatments to consider first for chronic low back pain. A 2020 Cochrane review found clear benefit versus no treatment, but only a small difference versus sham acupuncture. Expect a reasonable, guideline-endorsed option with modest benefit — not a cure.
2 sources
- [1]Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. PubMed 28192789 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.7326/M16-2367 (opens in a new tab)· clinical practice guideline
- [2]Mu J, Furlan AD, Lam WY, et al. Acupuncture for chronic nonspecific low back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;12(12):CD013814. PubMed 33306198 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD013814 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
Neck pain
In a large UK trial of people with long-standing neck pain, adding acupuncture to usual care modestly reduced pain and disability at 12 months. A 2025 review of 26 trials found acupuncture reduced neck pain and disability more than sham-type treatments, though evidence quality ranged from very low to moderate.
2 sources
- [1]MacPherson H, Tilbrook H, Richmond S, et al. Alexander Technique Lessons or Acupuncture Sessions for Persons With Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2015;163(9):653-62. PubMed 26524571 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.7326/M15-0667 (opens in a new tab)· randomized controlled trial (pragmatic)
- [2]Xie CR, Zhang ZY, Tao QF, et al. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Neck Pain: Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis. J Pain Res. 2025;18:6297-6316. PubMed 41322280 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.2147/JPR.S558059 (opens in a new tab)· systematic review and meta-analysis
Knee osteoarthritis
The American College of Rheumatology conditionally recommends acupuncture for knee, hip and hand osteoarthritis — it may help some people. Trials vary: one large 2021 trial found intensive electroacupuncture beat sham, while a 2014 trial found no benefit over sham. Exercise and weight management remain the cornerstones; acupuncture can be an add-on.
4 sources
- [1]Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(2):220-233. PubMed 31908163 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/art.41142 (opens in a new tab)· clinical practice guideline
- [2]Tu JF, Yang JW, Shi GX, et al. Efficacy of Intensive Acupuncture Versus Sham Acupuncture in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73(3):448-458. PubMed 33174383 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/art.41584 (opens in a new tab)· randomized controlled trial (sham-controlled)
- [3]Hinman RS, McCrory P, Pirotta M, et al. Acupuncture for chronic knee pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(13):1313-22. PubMed 25268438 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1001/jama.2014.12660 (opens in a new tab)· randomized controlled trial (sham-controlled)
- [4]Manheimer E, Cheng K, Linde K, et al. Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;2010(1):CD001977. PubMed 20091527 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD001977.pub2 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
Fibromyalgia
A Cochrane review found acupuncture improved pain and stiffness compared with no treatment or standard care, but not compared with sham; benefits faded by six months. A 2025 review reported improvements in pain, fatigue and mood but called for larger, high-quality studies.
2 sources
- [1]Deare JC, Zheng Z, Xue CC, et al. Acupuncture for treating fibromyalgia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(5):CD007070. PubMed 23728665 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD007070.pub2 (opens in a new tab)· Cochrane systematic review
- [2]Ye Z, Xue C, Liu Q, et al. The efficacy of acupuncture treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;12:1710642. PubMed 41625751 (opens in a new tab) · DOI 10.3389/fmed.2025.1710642 (opens in a new tab)· systematic review and meta-analysis
From Seven Medicine
Patient stories
Shared with names and identifying details removed.
Patient story · Acute pain
Neck and shoulder pain that was affecting sleep
- Where they started
- A patient came in with neck and shoulder pain they rated about 8 out of 10. It hurt to move, and it was waking them at night.
- The plan
- Dr. Kristina recommended a short initial course of closely spaced visits, with a check-in on how long relief lasted after each one.
- Over time
- The pain eased faster than expected, so the plan was shortened and the remaining visits were spaced further apart instead of continuing on a fixed schedule.
Acute problems can sometimes need a shorter course of care — and the plan changes when you respond faster.
Individual results vary. These stories describe individual patients and are not typical or guaranteed outcomes.
Patient experiences
In patients’ words
Individual experiences vary. Testimonials reflect personal experiences, not typical or guaranteed results.
Meet your practitioner
Dr. Kristina Gacesa
DAcCHM, M.CM, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Dr. Kristina completed her Doctorate in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine as valedictorian, summa cum laude, after earning master’s degrees in both acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her clinical training spans hospital and rehabilitation settings in Minnesota and clinical study in Zhengzhou, China.
She explains your care in both TCM and familiar medical terms, so you understand what she’s seeing, why she recommends what she does, and how you’ll know if it’s working.
Dr. Kristina holds a clinical doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. She is a licensed acupuncturist, not a medical physician (MD/DO), and works alongside — not in place of — your medical team.
FAQ
Pain questions
How quickly will I feel a difference?
Some people notice a change after one or two visits; longer-standing pain usually takes a series of visits. We track pain, sleep and function so you can see what's changing.
How many visits will I need?
Acute issues may need only a few visits. Chronic pain usually needs consistent care, often weekly to start, with a reassessment about a month in.
Can I come for an acute injury?
Yes, for strains and sprains once serious injury has been ruled out. See a doctor first for significant trauma, numbness or weakness, or pain with fever.
Can I use acupuncture alongside physical therapy?
Absolutely. Acupuncture pairs well with physical therapy, chiropractic care and medical pain treatment. Let each provider know what you're doing.
How is acupuncture different from dry needling?
Both use filiform needles. Acupuncture is a complete system of assessment and treatment with extensive training requirements for licensure; dry needling is usually a focused technique for trigger points used by other providers.
Can I keep doing physical therapy?
Absolutely. Acupuncture pairs well with PT, chiropractic care and medical pain management. Let each provider know what you're doing.
When should I see a doctor first?
Seek medical evaluation for pain after significant trauma, pain with fever or unexplained weight loss, new numbness or weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Still have questions?
or call(507) 258-7771