NICE-Endorsed · Evidence-Based · MiddlesbroughAcupuncture for Chronic Pain in Middlesbrough
You've tried the medication. You've done the physio. And still, the pain is there every morning when you wake up. If you're living with persistent pain that hasn't responded to conventional treatment, you're in the right place.
From £45 · Initial consultations from £80 · No waiting lists · Mon–Sat availability ⭐ 800+ Five-Star Reviews 🏆 Three Best Rated 2026 ✅ BAcC Member ✅ CNHC Registered ✅ ARA Approved Clinic ✅ PSA Accredited
Prefer to talk before booking? Call us: 0800 593 2023 · Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Initial consultation at The House, Middlesbrough
When You've Been Told There's Nothing More to Do
Chronic pain changes everything. It affects how you sleep, how you move, how you work, and how you show up for the people you love. Over time, it can quietly erode your sense of who you are.
Many of the people who come to us at our Middlesbrough clinic have been managing pain for months or years. Some have a diagnosis: sciatica, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, migraines. Others have had every test come back normal and have been left wondering why they still feel so awful. All of them arrive looking for something that finally works.
Acupuncture isn't a quick fix, and we won't pretend otherwise. What it offers is a whole-body approach that addresses not just the sensation of pain, but the nervous system patterns, muscular tension, and energy imbalances that keep pain locked in place. For many people, that makes all the difference.
We offer specialist chronic pain acupuncture in Middlesbrough, with two experienced practitioners and treatment pathways tailored to your needs.
NICE-Endorsed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends acupuncture as a first-line treatment for chronic primary pain, headaches, and migraines, recommending a course of up to 10 sessions over three months. This is not a last resort. It is an endorsed, evidence-based intervention.
What Acupuncture Actually Does for Pain
When a needle is placed, your body activates its own opioid system: the same natural pain-relief pathways that pain medication targets, but without the side effects. The neural pathways from acupuncture point stimulation, through the spinal cord, to the deactivation of pain centres in the brain have now been mapped by researchers.
At the same time, your nervous system begins to down-regulate. Inflammation settles. Muscle tension softens. The pain signals your brain has been receiving on repeat start to quieten.
"A meta-analysis of 39 randomised controlled trials and over 20,000 patients found acupuncture significantly outperformed both sham treatment and standard care for chronic pain, with effects that persisted at one-year follow-up."
Vickers et al., Journal of Pain, 2018. Cited by the British Acupuncture Council Evidence Based Acupuncture programme.
Conditions We Commonly Support
🦴Back Pain
Lower back pain, upper back tension, disc pain, and postural pain, including cases where conventional treatment has plateaued. See our back pain page.
⚡Sciatica
Shooting or burning nerve pain down the leg. We address the root of nerve irritation, not just the sensation itself.
🌀Fibromyalgia
Widespread muscular pain, fatigue, and heightened sensitivity. Acupuncture can calm the overactive nervous system response at the heart of fibromyalgia.
🧠Migraines & Headaches
Chronic migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. We work to reduce both frequency and severity over time.
🦵Joint & Arthritic Pain
Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and shoulder. Research consistently shows acupuncture outperforms standard care for joint-related pain.
💫Neck & Shoulder Pain
Chronic tension, stiffness, and referred pain from the neck into the arms and shoulders, often worsened by desk work and stress.
🔥Nerve Pain
Neuropathic pain, burning or tingling sensations, and conditions like carpal tunnel, where the nervous system itself is the source of discomfort.
🏃Sports & Injury Recovery
Persistent pain from old injuries, repetitive strain, and post-surgical recovery, supported through acupuncture and sports massage.
🌿Unexplained Chronic Pain
If tests have all come back clear but you're still in pain, Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a different framework for understanding what's happening.
Not sure if your condition is listed? Call 0800 593 2023 and we'll point you in the right direction.
Two Practitioners. Two Pathways. One Goal.
Our clinic takes a collaborative approach to chronic pain. Deanna and Anthony each bring distinct specialisms, and for many clients, a combination of both approaches delivers the best results.
Deanna Thomas
MBAcC · CNHC Registered · PG Diploma Obstetrics & GynaecologyDeanna leads with Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture: a thorough whole-body approach that addresses the underlying patterns driving your pain, not just the symptom itself.
At your initial consultation, she takes a detailed health history, looking at sleep, digestion, stress levels, and how your body is functioning as a system. From there, she builds a personalised treatment plan aimed at sustainable, cumulative improvement.
- Full TCM health assessment included
- Needling plus optional cupping, moxa or electro-acupuncture
- Ideal for complex or long-standing chronic pain
- Course of treatment recommended for lasting results
- Clients from across Teesside and the wider North East
Initial consultation & treatment: from £80 (75 mins)
Follow-up sessions: from £65 (60 mins)
Anthony
FHT Registered · NADA GB Certified · Level 3 Battlefield Acupuncture · VTCT Level 3 Sports MassageAnthony specialises in auricular (ear) acupuncture and Battlefield Acupuncture: a rapid, evidence-supported approach that can begin reducing pain from the very first session.
No lengthy consultation required. You come in, sit comfortably, and Anthony places up to five small needles in specific points on the outer ear that directly target pain regulation pathways. ASP semi-permanent needles extend relief between sessions.
- Battlefield Acupuncture for immediate pain reduction
- Fibromyalgia-specific ear acupuncture protocol
- Sports Massage for muscle pain and injury recovery
- Available Monday to Saturday
- No deep case history required. Just come as you are.
Transparent Pricing
Chronic Pain Consultation & Treatment
£80
75 minutes · With Deanna
Initial appointment
Acupuncture Follow-Up
£65
60 minutes · With Deanna
Existing clients
Battlefield Acupuncture
£45
45 minutes · With Anthony
No case history required
Book online via Fresha, or call 0800 593 2023 to discuss which pathway is right for you.
What to Expect From Your First Appointment
If you're booking with Deanna, it begins with a conversation. A thorough one. She'll ask about your pain history, when it started, what makes it better or worse, how your sleep and energy have been, and what's already been tried. Understanding the full picture is what allows her to build a treatment plan that targets the right things.
Your first acupuncture treatment follows the consultation. Fine needles are placed at specific points relevant to your pain pattern, and you'll rest for around 20 to 30 minutes. Most people find this deeply relaxing, even those who arrive anxious about needles.
If you're coming to Anthony for Battlefield Acupuncture, the experience is simpler. You sit in a chair, fully clothed. Anthony places up to five small needles in the outer ear. You rest quietly for a short while, and that's it. No talking required. Many clients notice a difference the same day.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Chronic pain has usually been building for a long time. Acupuncture works cumulatively: each session builds on the last. Most people with chronic conditions begin to notice meaningful change within four to six sessions. We'll always be honest with you about progress and adjust the plan as we go.
We ask all clients to commit to a course of treatment rather than attending as a one-off, because a single session rarely delivers the sustained change that most people with chronic pain are looking for.
Acupuncture for chronic pain is endorsed by NICE for chronic primary pain, headaches, and migraines, recommended as a course of up to 10 sessions over three months as a primary intervention, not a last resort.
The British Acupuncture Council's Evidence Based Acupuncture programme summarises extensive research demonstrating that acupuncture is superior to standard care for musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, shoulder pain, and chronic headache, with effects that persist long-term.
"Acupuncture isn't magic. It's regulation, consistency, and the right support at the right time."What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
"I'd had lower back pain for three years. Physio helped temporarily but it always came back. After six sessions with Deanna, I genuinely woke up one morning and realised it had gone. I couldn't quite believe it."
Google Review · Middlesbrough★★★★★
"I came to Anthony for Battlefield Acupuncture for my fibromyalgia after reading about it online. Within the first session, the burning feeling in my legs settled noticeably. It gives me relief I couldn't get anywhere else."
Fresha Review · Teesside★★★★★
"I was sceptical about acupuncture for sciatica but my GP suggested it. From the first session with Deanna I noticed the nerve pain reducing. By week four it had gone completely. I now come monthly for maintenance."
Google Review · Stockton-on-Tees800+ five-star reviews across Google and Fresha · Three Best Rated Award 2026 · Fresha Highly Recommended Badge
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture proven to work for chronic pain?
Yes. A 2018 meta-analysis in the Journal of Pain, drawing on 39 randomised controlled trials and over 20,000 patients, found acupuncture significantly outperformed both sham treatment and standard care for musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, and chronic headache. Crucially, the effects persisted at one-year follow-up, which is rare in pain management research. NICE now recommends acupuncture as a first-line option for chronic primary pain.
How many sessions will I need for chronic pain?
This depends on how long you've been in pain, the nature of your condition, and how your body responds. NICE recommends a course of up to 10 sessions over three months as a starting framework. In our experience, most clients with chronic pain notice meaningful improvement within four to six sessions, with some feeling a difference sooner. We'll always be honest with you about progress and adjust the plan as we go.
What is the difference between acupuncture and Battlefield Acupuncture for pain?
Traditional body acupuncture, which Deanna practises, addresses your pain through a full TCM assessment and needling at points across your body, working with your entire system. Battlefield Acupuncture, which Anthony offers, works exclusively through the outer ear using a protocol of five points linked to pain regulation in the nervous system. It requires no lengthy consultation and often produces rapid results, making it an ideal entry point or complement to full-body acupuncture.
Can acupuncture help if I have fibromyalgia?
Yes. Fibromyalgia is characterised by an overactive central nervous system: amplified pain signals, widespread muscular sensitivity, and fatigue. Acupuncture works directly on the nervous system to down-regulate this overactivity, reducing the intensity and reach of pain signals. Anthony offers a fibromyalgia-specific ear acupuncture protocol targeting points linked to pain regulation, muscle relaxation, and emotional balance. Deanna's full-body approach addresses the systemic picture, including sleep, energy, and digestion, which are often affected alongside pain in fibromyalgia.
Is acupuncture safe if I am already taking pain medication?
In most cases, yes. Acupuncture can be used safely alongside most conventional pain medications. We will always take a full health history before treatment, including any medications you're taking. If there are any contraindications, we'll tell you clearly. We never advise clients to reduce or stop prescribed medication without consulting their GP first.
Where is the clinic and do you see clients from across Teesside?
We're based at The House, 283 Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 7BP. We see clients from across the Teesside area, including Stockton-on-Tees, Yarm, Ingleby Barwick, Thornaby, Marton, and beyond. Parking is available on site and we're easy to reach from most parts of the region. Call us on 0800 593 2023 or book directly online.
Further Reading
Can Stress Make Pain Worse?The clinical link between chronic stress and pain amplification, and how acupuncture addresses both together.
You Don't Have to Keep Living With This
Chronic pain is exhausting in ways that are hard to explain to people who haven't experienced it. If you're ready to try a different approach, one that treats you as a whole person and not just a set of symptoms, we're here when you're ready.
Book Your Consultation No waiting lists · Specialist chronic pain acupuncture in Middlesbrough · 0800 593 2023 "Wellness grows where energy flows."