Acupuncture and scar tissue:
What is scar tissue?
Generally, scar tissue is an unorganized replacement filler tissue that holds together a region of damage or injury. It is a fibrous cellular form of connective tissue that, if on the surface, usually has no hair, sweat glands and occasionally no nerves. Sometimes the nerve endings are left open and can cause chronic pain, including Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Different types of scarring, depending on the type of tissue and injury have different needs and act differently, in fact it is not very functional at all.
Usually, scar tissue has very poor blood circulation compared to the healthy tissue around it and that makes it more susceptible to other ‘trophic’ issues later on. Scar tissue is generally stiffer, and of different color and texture than the surrounding normal tissue.
The reason I speak of scar tissue and not skin itself is because scar can happen inside too. Around your intestines, in the lung, inside nerves, joints, muscles, or anywhere else.
Scar tissue will never be the same as the healthy ‘original’ tissue.
How do you get scar tissue?
Sometimes this is obvious; a surgery, break, tear, cut, puncture, burn, scrape… all of those. However, not commonly known is the buildup of adhesions from chronic misalignment, misuse, inflammation. This can be from stress of chronic misuse or poor circulation and movement.
Sometimes, scar tissue develops when an area that has been injured does not get the proper movement because of pain. Pain generally stops people from moving and the tissues will 'set' in place. Having fibers attach to what ever is nearest. Some tissues will have fibers that should grow in a certain direction as in a muscle. When an injury occurs, the bleeding causes fibers to be built to plug holes and stop bleeding. If the tissue starts to move in a more normal direction and way the fibers will lay down in the direction needed. If not, they are laid down in what ever position that they grow causing binding and stiffness. Eventually it all gets bound up together and can be uncomfortable.
What does scar tissue do?
Scar tissue is nonfunctional fibrous connective tissue, think of Duct Tape that you would use to patch a hole in a coat. It hampers the function is decreased and it is a non-permanent repair that can become permanent if we do not completely heal. Much scar tissue can never become normal tissue. The damage has been done.
Scar tissue reduces function of the normal tissue
Scar tissue reduces the blood flow which brings oxygen and nutrients as well as brings away waste.
Scar tissue reduces lymph flow which helps with clean-up and repair.
Scar tissue reduces all fluid flow and energy flow.
Scars that cross meridians or are along meridians tend to have more pain.
Scar tissue slows or disrupts the natural flow of your vital energy (Chi) that nourishes the tissues and keeps them ‘vital’
Scars are more sensitive to barometric changes like when the weather turns bad and the area will ache.
How acupuncture can help;
Acupuncture or dry needling can increase the blood flow, Chi flow, lymph flow and improve the range of motion as well as the normal function.
How? As the needles are placed then removed they start a new injury that attracts all the factors of healing. Histamines to promote attraction of white blood cells, Heparin to increase and change the fluid flow and therefore the pH (acidity and alkalinity) of the area.
We promote more consciousness in that area of scar tissue which can enhance the healing and adaptation process. It is important to have our minds work with the natural healing so that we become more in-tune and ‘whole’. Medications and immobility stop that process and the brain gradually just accepts the pain and dysfunction as the normal. Probably the worst part is the acupuncture result of later ache from those areas that were ‘asleep’ and not working slowly coming back.
We should not lose sight of the goal and continue with the treatment as best we can. Movement and motion is the life to these areas including the emotional movement.
Acupuncture can also assist in getting the mind clear of the baggage around the injury, the anger and frustration can develop in to hope, wholeness, acceptance, adaptability, and success.
Manipulating the scar tissue by hand is also very useful in loosening it and helping it become more like the surrounding 'healthy' or normal tissue. I suggest to patients to use Vitamin E oil to rub into the scar so that it becomes softer, you can also use shea butter or really anything as long as you spend the time to rub the scar tissue in all directions. It needs to stretch and not be so attached to the other tissues. Granted, scar tissue lacks some of the elastin and collagen that give normal tissue its flexibility and to some extent, strength.
Scar manipulation is also good because it focuses the consciousness on the area and helps one come to terms with it, accepting it as an actual part of them. It has huge emotional benefits.
But wait, emotion? How can scars make a difference with emotions?
There are a few ways, first, the scar may be on a meridian, and all meridians have an emotional component that should be contemplated in the healing process to work toward wholeness.
Occasionally, some people feel these emotions rise up during a treatment. This is not only a normal thing, but a great thing to help you ‘get through’. I had a client that had an upper back injury some years before I ever met her. I was doing massage at the time and was very interested in getting my palpation skills more refined so working on someone with adhesions was a real treat. The session started like any other, I was prepping the table with nice sheets, thick almond oil with scent (lavender I think) and nice music to help this client relax. She was on the table face down and I started with the typical effleurage (large broad open handed strokes on the back to spread the oil and relax her a bit) I was able to complete the first couple steps of my 'technique' when I started to feel ropy knots in her upper back just next to the spine near the shoulder blades. She related that she had had that knot so long she actually gave it a name. I worked the scar area and noticed it was rather immobile and very tight. I was hesitant to use too much pressure and worked the entire area with the heel of my hand and thumbs. I noticed she 'jolted' a couple times and suddenly sat up and left the room. Without a stitch of clothing on her! I was petrified. I did not know what I did to make her get up and realized she was crying as she left. I was not sure if I should leave, stay there, go tend to her or what ever. I waited. Asked if she was ok, she said she was 'ok' from behind the bathroom door, obviously crying. I do not do well with crying and really was nervous. I sat on my table and waited for her. In a couple minuted she came out of the bathroom, wearing her robe and wiping away tears with a tissue. She said, 'Wow, that was a great release, happens every time." I about killed her.
I was shocked. "This has happened before?"
She related that every time someone got into that area of her back she had an emotional release. She had to reassure me that I did nothing wrong. (Remember I was only working in massage for a very short time). We were able to complete the massage with no further interruption and she became a regular client. We did change the technique to avoid that area of triggered response if she or I was not up to it. Sometimes we would get a similar release, sometimes she would get the giggles, sometimes nothing at all. Needless to say it was a great learning experience for me. It moved me to start to learn more about the emotions that are held in the body and how they can be effectively released and processed without stagnating and causing more problems down the road.
What about ‘emotional scars’?
That is a different type of scar, yet no less problematic. In fact, most times worse because they cannot be seen nor felt by any other hand. They are secret scars. Those can be helped with the right type of acupuncture, but that is only one step in a long journey. But that is for another time.
So, for a scar. Get some acupuncture. Ask about ‘surrounding the dragon’ a technique to get the Chi energy though that tissue. It reduces stagnation, heat and energy build up etc. Acupuncture can help you find relief as a part of a plan to get that scar to work with you instead of against you.
When doing acupuncture for a scar we have to take into consideration the meridian it may cross. That can be a great determiner as to where the needles will go to help with any emotional components of that scar and meridian combination. With a scar that is a line it would depend on where it is and which direction it seems to go. Does it go against the 'grain' of the body? Does it have depth, width? Acupuncture would go around the scar as in the 'Surround the Dragon' technique but also may have needles along the meridian and pointing in the direction of the energy flow. This is determined by merely knowing the direction of the meridian. With the first point being the beginning and the energy flowing to the last point. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes down. Either way, getting acupuncture points located and recorded is good for study and improved outcomes.
Acupuncture in a scar starts or I should say re-starts the inflammation process and can help the body reduce the scar. This works best with the physical manipulation of the scar with oil as it makes the tissue remodel into a more normal shape and function.
I have treated scars from knees and shoulders, backs and necks and even some 'cording' which you see when you have had lymph nodes removed (just internal scar). With each I would really try and get the tissue to loosen and get the mind in more contact with the tissue so that there is less anxiety and fear about it.
Acupuncture can also help with the associated pain that often comes with scar tissue in largely the same way. It improves the mind's communication with the tissues, re establishes a two way communication and often that is all it takes to get the tissue to feel better. With the manipulations, massage and the needling of the points around the scar it will soon even start to look different. Soon being overall better. At least subjectively.
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