Health insurance accepts acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis

Acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis can be accounted for under certain circumstances as health insurance at the health insurance companies.

Under certain circumstances, an acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis or back pain in a general practitioner with additional training as a health insurance can be submitted to a public health insurance. This is what the Independent Patient Counseling in Germany (UPD) refers to.

But not always the health insurance companies are willing to pay the costs. The costs are only taken if the back pain is chronic or at least one knee is affected by osteoarthritis. Chronic means in this case, if the pain persists continuously for six months. In addition, you can not have the treatment done by a regular health practitioner, but only with a doctor with proven training in the field of medical acupuncture. The treatment, each with up to ten sessions must be done within six weeks, as the Independent Patienberatung announced. In justified exceptions some health insurances also make an exception and allow a treatment duration of 12 weeks. However, only a total of 15 acupuncture sessions may take place. A follow-up treatment is possible at the earliest after one year. It is important that the treatment was previously agreed with the health insurance and prescribed by a doctor.

Acupuncture is proven effective in chronic pain.
The exact circumstances why acupuncture helps with back problems has not been conclusively explored. However, scientists assume that endorphins are released by setting the needles. These endorphins ("happiness hormones") in turn inhibit the pain and let the symptoms subside. In addition, the level of serotonin increases significantly, which as a pulse transmitter from one nerve cell to another also controls the sensation of pain in the brain.

Acupuncture is extremely effective, which is also acknowledging conventional medicine. Only ten percent of patients experience no improvement. In 70 percent of those affected, the pain subsides by setting the needles. If the patients suffer from acute pain, the acupuncture provides a treatment success of over 80 percent. Acupuncture is not only effective for back pain and neck tension, but also for depression. (Sb)

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Image: Sabine Weiße, Pixelio.de