“Lok-Kwan's treatment of my chronic pain and the side-effects of opioid pain medication use were extremely effective. But more than this, seeing Lok-Kwan on a regular basis has vastly improved my overall health and well being. What makes Lok-Kwan different, though, is that he is a true MASTER of not only acupuncture, but also shiatsu, Chinese herbal medicine, Daoism and Qi-Gong…And on top of all this, Lok-Kwan is a truly wonderful and generous person.”
TCM acupuncture and herbal therapy are effective treatments for chronic pain and the side-effects of opoid medication.
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists or recurs for longer than three months. Unlike acute pain from a temporary injury, chronic pain can lead to lasting changes in brain structure, such as grey matter loss, and is often linked to mental health challenges like depression and anxiety.
While opioid medications—including prescription drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl—are used for severe pain, they carry a wide range of side effects. Immediate effects commonly include nausea, drowsiness, and severe constipation. A more life-threatening risk is respiratory depression, where the drug slows breathing to dangerous levels, which can lead to a fatal overdose.
Over time, the body often develops tolerance, meaning higher doses are required to achieve the same pain relief, alongside physical dependence. Paradoxically, some patients develop Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia (OIH), a state where the medication actually makes them more sensitive to pain. Other long-term complications include:
Endocrinopathy: Disruption of hormones leading to fatigue, muscle loss, and sexual dysfunction.
Cognitive Decline: Small but significant impairments in memory, attention, and language.
Sleep Disorders: A high prevalence of central sleep apnea.
Because of these significant risks, medical guidelines now prioritize non-opioid treatments as the preferred first step for managing chronic pain.