Pain

Headaches, back pain and sciatica, neck pain, shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee pain, sprains, arthritis, dental pain, menstrual and pelvic pain, and pain that follows an injury or surgery. If your pain is not on that list, call and ask. The approach is the same whatever the location.

Chinese medicine understands pain as a sign that the flow of Qi through the body's meridians has been blocked or restricted. In acupuncture theory, needles placed at specific points along those meridians help release and regulate that flow, so that nourishment can reach the tissues again and health may be restored.

It depends on the type of pain, how long you have had it, and how your body responds. Rather than working from a fixed number, we build the plan around your needs at the first visit and adjust it as you go.

Sometimes. Chinese herbal medicine is often used alongside acupuncture, and certain herbs are traditionally chosen to ease pain. Whether a formula is part of your plan depends on your diagnosis, and it is adjusted to your symptoms.

A conversation first. We go through your health history and the history of the pain itself, along with sleep, digestion, energy, and stress, and use the diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine, such as reading the tongue and pulse, to look at the person as a whole. From that we identify the pattern behind the pain and put together a plan of acupuncture and, where it fits, herbal medicine.

Not in the way most people expect. The needles are single use and hair thin, many times finer than the needle used for a blood draw. Insertion is a brief pinch, if you feel it at all, and what follows is usually a dull ache, a heaviness, or a spreading warmth at the point. That sensation is expected and means the point is active. Sharp or lasting pain is not expected. Say so, and the needle is adjusted or removed. The measured sensations and the safety surveys are in does acupuncture hurt.

Loose, comfortable clothing that can be rolled above the knee and the elbow, since many of the points used for pain sit on the lower legs and forearms. Shorts or soft pants and a short-sleeved top work well. If the pain is in your back, neck, or shoulder, a gown is available so the area can be reached without you undressing further. Leave heavy makeup off that day if you can, as the tongue and complexion are part of the examination.

Take it easy. Drink water, eat normally, and give yourself a quiet rest of the day where you can. Skip heavy exercise and alcohol until the next morning. Many people feel relaxed or sleepy for a few hours, and some feel the pain shift before it eases. Mild soreness at a point or a small bruise can happen and clears on its own within a few days. If anything about how you feel concerns you, call or text and ask.

Yes. Coverage for acupuncture varies by plan, so we can verify your benefits before you arrive. Complete the online form on our New Patient Forms page and we will contact you as soon as your benefits are established.