Acupuncture successfully treats Joint Pain Syndromes, including Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Hip Pain, Knee Pain, Ankle and Foot Pain. Acupuncturists have treated hundreds of trauma/sports related injuries with Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutritional support and therapeutic exercises. Here is just one of those many success stories, told by a successful accupuncturist:
"Just recently, in crawled an old patient of mine who I hadn’t seen in a few years. Pete (not his real name) is your typical early 30s jock who had decided to run the Chicago Marathon this past September. His training was going fine until, like many, he got too “gung-ho”and hurt himself. The old "no pain, no gain" mentality had taken another victim. We’ve all been there and it isn’t fun. Pain like you don’t want to imagine, gripping, sharp, stabbing pain that literally knocks you down. Fortunately, with the help of Orthopedic Acupuncture techniques I was able to relieve his severe discomfort almost immediately. The orthopedic exam revealed ligament restrictions in his left Sacro-Lumbar (lower back) area and a pubic bone displacement (in front below the navel). With specific maneuvers (mobilization), we were able to free up the pubic bone misalignment and with the Orthopedic Acupuncture techniques, I was able to relax the low back ligaments, soften the surrounding muscles and tendons to increase his range of motion. It makes perfectly good sense to free up restrictions (tight ligaments) and let the body move back into its natural balance so that it can function optimally. Don’t you think? The pain subsided significantly and we sat and outlined a very clear strategy to get him back the marathon track. Take it easy and no “work-through-the-pain” stuff the next couple of weeks. We agreed to work together on this and success was assured. To support the treatment, I encouraged Pete to use extra pillows at night to support his body in the most restful pose so it could heal. This meant sleeping on his back, pillow rolled under and supporting his neck, a pillow under his knees and each arm. With a bit of apprehension, (he was a dedicated stomach sleeper), he decided to try it. Though he limped out of my office the first visit, he slept better than ever that night and came back with greatly optimistic. The smile on his face on his return to my office was priceless. He slept soundly the whole night through; was refreshed on waking, and with significantly less back pain. What this approach does is reemphasize my healing philosophy, which is to free up restrictions (in this case, tight ligaments) and let the body move back into it’s natural balance and function optimally. As an acupuncturist and lifelong Tai Chi and Qi Gong practioner, I incorporate therapeutic exercises to help patients sustain the positive effects of the treatments. “Gel pack” icing, medicated plasters, swimming, and stretches tailored to his current needs were further instructed as well as massage therapy; all contributing to Pete's ultimate recovery. We also looked at how Pete moves around in his daily activities. A busy real estate attorney and father of five-year-old twins (both Pete and his wife used my acupuncture infertility program to help have these two gems); we worked on modifying his pattern for getting in and out of the car, sitting and getting out of chairs, in addition to walking with greater ease by allowing his hips to move more naturally. The improvement in his gait in just one week was remarkable. Seven treatments within three weeks, Pete ran 4 miles, then 6, and then 10 miles without any recurrence of the severe and debilitating pain in his lower back. During the course of his acupuncture treatments, we also addressed a chronic childhood asthma issue that began hindering his performance. Pete's type of asthma is triggered by exertion and had developed a bad cold. By combining TCM, nutritional support and acupuncture Pete's coughing subsided significantly and he now has more enjoyable runs and was able to return to his marathon workout schedule. " You guessed it. Pete ran the Chicago marathon in impossible conditions. The heat and humidity set records for Chicago in September 2007. Pete finished the allowed 20 mile portion of the run with plenty of energy to spare. He and his family were so proud of this accomplishment. I am so glad to have been a part of helping him achieve such an important personal goal."
