This technique employs very fine needles that are inserted just under the skin in specific regions of the body. The neurohormonal hypothesis is one explanation as to how acupuncture mediates pain reduction. It states that the acupuncture needles initiate the body s release of endorphins and other chemical messengers. These substances then cause a feeling of numbness and therefore a reduction in pain felt by the patient. Recent studies suggest that these drugs may also be able to decrease the morbidity associated with bony metastases.
Osteoclasts work to break down bone, while osteoblasts rebuild bone.
Diseases such as cancer, myelomatosis, and osteoporosis can disrupt this natural process. In these disease processes, bone is reabsorbed faster than it is rebuilt. As a result, patients develop either thin, weak bones or lytic lesions within the bone. As bone is broken down, calcium is released into the blood and hypercalcemia can result. Bisphosphonates inhibit the action of osteoclasts and therefore slow the rate of bone destruction.