ACTRIMS 2024 | Acupressure for the management of pain and anxiety in patients with MS

Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN, Baptist Neurology Inc, Jacksonville Beach, FL, discusses the use of acupressure to manage pain and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Both the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend acupressure as a primary treatment for pain. Although the body of research on acupressure in general is quite extensive, the evidence in the clinic is more limited than in the hospital setting. As pain and anxiety medication is associated with side effects and it may take a significant period of time for patients to gain access to these pharmacological treatments, Ms Weigel wanted to investigate whether acupressure could provide patients with pain relief before medication is prescribed. A standardized protocol using Soul Lightening Acupressure (SLA) was performed in a 45-60 minute visit, and patients were asked to rate their pain and anxiety prior to and following the treatment using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Both pain and anxiety were decreased in patients who underwent the acupressure treatment, suggesting that regular acupressure sessions could be an adjunctive form of treatment for individuals experiencing these symptoms. This interview took place during the annual ACTRIMS Forum 2024.

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