Photo by Katherine Hanlon on Unsplash
Pain can be a terrible thing. When you’re in pain, it’s hard to focus on anything else. When pain is severe, opioids are often prescribed; but opioids are a real risk for people with chronic pain—as we learned from the exponential rise in opioid addictions when oxycontin was being prescribed for both acute and chronic pain. Opioids for chronic pain are no longer considered a good practice, let alone a best practice, unless for end of life treatment of pain, when avoidance of dependency and addiction is not a concern.
Acupuncture has a long history of use for pain management. But it’s hard to come by in rural areas. Dr. Mitchell Knisely, RN, is a registered nurse and associate professor of nursing at the Duke University School of Nursing where he also is the Associate Dean of Nurse Scientists Programs. He’s also been a fellow in the UCD Betty Moore Nurse Leaders and Innovators Fellowship program, which has supported his work on developing a group approach to acupuncture for people in rural areas who are struggling with pain. HealthCetera producer and host, Dr. Diana Mason, RN, talked with Dr. Knisely about this initiative and the potential for it to be replicated in other rural communities. This interview first aired on HealthCetera in the Catskills on Radio Catskill, WIOX Radio, on September 30, 2026.
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