Call us on 021 154 1413
Call us on 021 154 1413
Combining knowledge of western anatomy and traditional diagnosis, an acupuncturist takes into consideration not only the location of the pain, but also the nature of it, the times of day it occurs, the effects of the weather, the relieving and aggravating factors etc. With this comprehensive assessment and diagnosis acupuncture is more effective in relieving pain, improving function and producing long lasting results.
Acupuncturist have a number of treatment options for musculoskeletal problems including electro-acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and moxibustion.
A wide range of these conditions can be treated under ACC.
SYMPTOMS: Back pain | Sciatica | Neck pain | Sports injuries | Arthritis | Other pain
Back pain is one of the most common complaints we treat in Family Acupuncture. We see many people who have not had success with other treatments, but respond to acupuncture.
Chinese medicine views back pain very differently from other therapies. Back pain is often seen as stagnation, or blockage, of qi (energy) and blood in the local area. This blockage can be caused by over-use, trauma or the influence of the environmental factors penetrating the area.
The type of pain (whether it is dull or sharp), the time of day it occurs and what soothes or aggravates it are all of diagnostic importance. For example, many patients present with a back that is stiff and feels cold, the pain is worse when they go outside in the cold, damp weather and is improved when they put a hot water bottle on it. This indicates that to some extent the back has been penetrated by cold and damp. A diagnosis in this way means that treatment really reaches the cause of the problem.
In the case of severe acute disc trauma, acupuncture can be very useful when physical manipulation is too painful or undesirable. We provide a very gentle but highly effective treatment.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates or refers into the buttocks and/or leg. The pain can appear from the buttock down and can affect either one of both legs. Often this pain may be associated with tingling or numbness in the legs. The cause of the pain may lie in the leg itself or often more commonly is caused by problems in the lower back.
Acupuncture works by invigorating the flow of qi and blood throughout the area. When there is free flow in the area then pain is reduced, nerve sensitivity diminishes and the body’s own healing ability is able to resolve inflammation.
Neck pain and its associated problems of back and shoulder pain, headaches or dizziness is a very common condition seen at Family Acupuncture. Whether caused by stress, poor posture, injury, arthritis, general wear and tear or some unknown cause, this can be a distressing complaint causing both pain and restriction of movement. Understanding the exact location and nature of the pain, assessing the aggravating and relieving factors are important in providing a specific diagnosis that reflects the underlying cause of the pain.
Acupuncture is a safe, effective and gentle treatment for the neck. Pain is often reduced and mobility improved in just a few sessions. Family Acupuncture work closely with osteopaths and physiotherapists to make sure you get the right rehabilitation and care so you can maintain the improvement that acupuncture treatment has given you.
Sports injuries include any number of complaints that effect any ‘sports person’ from the casual golfer, the weekend warrior to the professional athlete. Acupuncture is very effective in getting people back to their favourite activities.
Often sports injuries are covered by ACC and acupuncture is effective and available for a wide range of injuries from bruising, hematoma thru to broken bones, pulled muscles and strained ligaments. Acupuncture is increasingly used by top sports players and athletes to treat musculoskeletal problems. It is used both on its own and in conjunction with other therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy.
Many professional athletes and sports teams use acupuncture not only to treat injuries but to also keep them performing at their peak.
Arthritis is something people commonly seek our help for. Arthritis is not a single disorder but a generalised name for joint disease from a number of causes. There is a great deal of variation in the symptoms that people experience with arthritis. For some people pain has a wandering character moving from one joint to another and for others the pain is worse with certain weather. For some the joints may become swollen and hot, or just swollen, while others feel dry and tight. They are also affected differently by hot and cold.
In clinical practice there is always a combination of these sorts of symptoms and often a great deal of variation from one person to the next. It stands to reason that someone whose joints are hot and swollen should receive a very different treatment to someone whose joints are just as painful but neither hot nor swollen. Understanding this enables acupuncture treatments to be individually focused.
Arthritis is often not a condition which can be cured, but acupuncture is a proven treatment to manage your pain and dysfunction. Acupuncture can enable people to continue their daily lives as they wish and in many instances can put off further surgical interventions, reduce medications and their unwanted side-effects.
Research from the UK showed that benefits and patient pain relief and satisfaction with acupuncture treatment and self-care was high and continued for months after treatment.
Not all pain is able to be clearly diagnosed in western medicine as it does not always result from a specific disease or inflammatory process. In these instances pain may be more loosely attributed to a virus or the cause of pain just may be unknown. In other instances treatment itself may contribute to pain symptoms.
Irrespective of a diagnosis, or suggested cause, drug treatment is the normal course of action. Prescriptions often include strong anti-inflammatory medication, or opioids. These types of medications may produce unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness or digestive upset, and seem to require increasingly higher dosages over time with diminishing relief. The risk remains that once the drug treatment is discontinued, the pain tends to return.
Acupuncture works to relieve the circulation blockages and pain caused by nerve root involvement or tissue inflammation, thereby addressing the problem at the root of the pain. Whether the pain is limited to a few localised areas of the body, or more widespread throughout the body. Whether it is pain that is longstanding or comes and goes acupuncture may provide relief and to address the underlying disharmony.
These same principles can also be applied to instances of pain that are the result of other processes such as cancer or the side effects of conventional treatments.
Electroacupuncture and cupping are often used in conjunction with acupuncture to reduce nerve sensitivity, tissue inflammation and provide the maximum pain relief.
migraine, tension, sinus, cluster headaches
