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Perhaps the most common concern first-timers have about acupuncture treatment is whether or not the needles will hurt. To this, Implicito responds in a calm, assured tone that I imagine puts her clients effortlessly at ease, with: "the needles are hair-thin. Sometimes in the interest of precision, we will use a plastic tube around the needle that only presses against the skin during insertion. Most patients feel that tube more acutely than they feel the needle piercing their skin. e needles are nothing like the ones used to draw blood, which is what most patients imagine." Kenneth Park, M.D., is a specialist in pain medicine at Englewood Health. Over the years, Dr. Park has referred many patients with chronic pain to the Graf Center to receive acupuncture treatment. While Dr. Park operates on the clinical side of the health industry, he sees the value in alternative methods to treat pain. "ere have been studies that suggest acupuncture releases endorphins—the chemical that helps alleviate pain. As the needles pierce the muscle tissue, they also relax muscle tension which is a cause of pain for many people. ere may not be one clear reason why acupuncture helps with pain, but there are multiple mechanisms of action that make this treatment beneficial to patients," Dr. Park said. When I spoke to Dr. Park, he had just le an appointment with a patient who had shingles and uterine cancer and had recently found a bit of relief in their acupuncture sessions. What came into focus during our conversation, is that acupuncture is not a magic trick, a quick fix, or a treatment that will eliminate all of your pain; rather, it is a valuable treatment option that is worth including within a larger, pain management plan. "Pain isn't just one thing—it's multi-dimensional. So, it can't always be treated with cortisone injections or medications alone. e best way to manage pain is by pursuing it on multiple fronts. Whether that's a regimen of medication, meditation, acupuncture and physical therapy—what we know for sure is that patients who pursue pain relief in multiple ways have the best outcomes," Dr. Park said Pain is physical, emotional and psychological. In order to deal with pain properly, we have to address each aspect of pain and, like Implicito once did, we have to search for the methods that will bring some peace to each aspect of our pain. Acupuncture is just one option that is worth investigating. Call 973-979-6940 for availability. 24 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042 dodysdresses.com V U E N J . C O M 131

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