Questions & Answers
Q: What is Acupuncture?
|
A: Acupuncture is an ancient healing art that has survived 3,000 years, and has proved to be effective for acute and chronic pain as well as whole body health - without side-effects or surgery. Being a full medical system, it has a wide reach, treating many conditions from digestive issues and allergies to back pain and anxiety. Acupuncture is relatively painless and is a deeply relaxing experience.
|
Hair Thin Acupuncture Needle
|
Keep Moving!
|
Q: My knees hurt when I take a walk or run, can Orthopedic Acupuncture help or will I have to suffer like this for the rest of my life?A: Get an acupuncture treatment promptly when you start noticing pain while exercising. This can help you to avoid an injury from setting in and taking hold. Exercising through the pain will increase the chance of creating a long term issue and increase inflammation. Body ergonomics play an important role during workouts and is important to establish proper body alignment.
Orthopedic testing will indicate any possible tear or strain. If there is strain, acupuncture will increase blood flow to the area to increase healing potential, accelerate healing time, decrease pain, and improve range of motion. If there is a a possible tear I will refer you to your primary care physician. Surgery to repair torn tendons or ligaments maybe indicated and talking with your primary care provider will be necessary to obtain a diagnosis. Acupuncture before and after surgery is shown to reduce healing time with better overall outcomes post surgery, with increased range of motion and quicker healing time. Knee replacement surgery is probably the most invasive and most common surgeries that we want to avoid if possible or postpone. Knee replacement only last 10 years on average so finding an alternative therapy is imperative. Acupuncture does wonders for knee health. The goal is to drop a few pounds, establish a regular exercise routine and seek out Acupuncture treatments to help increase blood circulation, ease muscle tension surrounding the knees and decrease discomfort so you can continue to get out and about. |
Q: I've been told I need surgery. Can Orthopedic Acupuncture help me prolong or avoid surgery?
A: Often times patients can avoid or prolong surgery with Orthopedic Acupuncture, yes. Of course, there are several factors that are at play here. If there are full thickness tears to tendons or ligaments, surgery is most likely your best bet to get back in action. If there are partial tears, then Orthopedic Acupuncture can help stimulate the body to increase the healing process, increase blood flow and promote your bodies natural healing intelligence to speed up recovery time. In fact, pre and post surgery are great times to come in for treatments with acupuncture for those very reasons. So either way, whether your headed to surgery or wanting to post pone or avoid it completely, Orthopedic Acupuncture can readily help you on your path to rehab and recovery and increase overall healing outcomes.
|
Stay Active!
|
Q: I have been to see a Chiropractor and Physical Therapist and neither have given me relief, would I be wasting my time going to see an Acupuncturist?
A: As a practitioner, we all want to see our patients find relief from what ails them but unfortunately we can't always help everyone. People by nature respond differently to the myriad of modalities available in this modern age. Therefore, If you don't respond well to one modality it does not mean you won't respond well to another.
The benefit of Acupuncture is the holistic or whole body approach. Sometime our pain mechanism is driven by imbalances that can't be treated with manipulating muscles and bone. Sometimes our bodies need more TLC or even a "tune up" and in some cases an "over haul" in order to start the healing process. Our bodies are dynamic, how well we respond to treatment depends on how long standing the problem is, how healthy our bodies are and what underlying health conditions we have that may need more support so the body can then begin to heal. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine looks at the body as a whole system made of more than bones, tissues, nerves and muscle. We look to see how the health of your organ systems are doing, how healthy the blood circulation is and how the body is responding to stress. We look to see if there is a weak link that needs support so the body can finally heal. We take note of emotional health, and sleep health. All these play a large role in our health and recovery. Chinese medicine is equipped to support the body in a very unique way by employing physical medicine as well as internal medicine. Let me know if you have further question.
The benefit of Acupuncture is the holistic or whole body approach. Sometime our pain mechanism is driven by imbalances that can't be treated with manipulating muscles and bone. Sometimes our bodies need more TLC or even a "tune up" and in some cases an "over haul" in order to start the healing process. Our bodies are dynamic, how well we respond to treatment depends on how long standing the problem is, how healthy our bodies are and what underlying health conditions we have that may need more support so the body can then begin to heal. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine looks at the body as a whole system made of more than bones, tissues, nerves and muscle. We look to see how the health of your organ systems are doing, how healthy the blood circulation is and how the body is responding to stress. We look to see if there is a weak link that needs support so the body can finally heal. We take note of emotional health, and sleep health. All these play a large role in our health and recovery. Chinese medicine is equipped to support the body in a very unique way by employing physical medicine as well as internal medicine. Let me know if you have further question.
Q: What if I have pain without a known injury?
A: Not all pain is directly related to an injury. Sometimes pain can be a result of structural, anatomical or physiological imbalances in the body. During your first visit our specialist will perform a health history assessment to identify any possible underlying conditions that may be keeping you from healing naturally. Based on our findings we will appropriately prescribe any relevant lifestyle, nutrition and/or herbal therapies that will start you on a path to healing.
