Intramuscular Stimulation Acupuncture Technique
(GunnIMS) -
What makes it different?
GunnIMS is a technique that uses acupuncture needles. It was developed by C. Chan Gunn MD, over 30 years ago. Through his examination of workers with lingering injuries, Dr. Gunn developed theories about the causes of chronic pain and began to use the term "neuropathic" (meaning abnormality of the nerve) to describe the changes he saw in these patients. Up to that point, the term "neuropathic" was used to describe extreme changes in nerve function. His findings were written up in medical journal articles and in the landmark textbook called Pain, by John Bonica MD. (Dr. Bonica was a giant in the field of pain medicine). Along with his theories on chronic pain, Dr. Gunn also explored acupuncture techniques for the treatment of lingering injuries and thereby refined GunnIMS.
In regular acupuncture -- both the classical techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the anatomical approaches of the last 30 years -- practitioners place most of their needles along the energy pathways, or meridians, that have been recognized for over 5000 years.* The acupuncture needles are usually left in place for 20 minutes and sometimes are attached to gentle electrical stimulation. They affect the body by acting along these meridians. TCM does not use our western system of physical examination or diagnosis.
GunnIMS is a technique of placing acupuncture needles into points that are determined by conventional medical physical examination and diagnosis. Injured areas of muscle, called trigger points (TPs), are identified and the needles are placed into these points. The needles are usually removed after just a few seconds when the TP is released. The spine and evidence of subtle injuries to the nerves are carefully examined. According to Gunn's theories, this is where many injuries begin, which is why he identified this type of pain as "neuropathic." By releasing the muscles around the spinal vertebrae, pressure is taken off the nerves as they exit the spine. This improves the health of the nerve and the muscles and other structures it supplies.
