Greg came in with back pain that has been bothering him for years.

His work is of the physical nature and exacerbates his back almost every day. He has been to a chiropractor, massage therapist, done lots of PT and consulted with western MDs. He has not had much relief from any of it unfortunately. Now the doctors were proposing surgery. When he arrived I was his last “port of call” before considering surgery.

So many Americans deal with chronic low back and neck pain. These are some of the most common types I see although pain can show up almost anywhere. Pain has a price to pay on multiple levels: cost of missing work or at least being very uncomfortable there, not being able to get out and play, worries about the future, loneliness of missing out on your favorite activities with friends – the list goes on.

Luckily for Greg the acupuncture and exercises I introduced him to have made all the difference in the world.

He came in for 6 sessions and had great improvement from acupuncture. Although he had been doing prescribed exercises and stretches from his PT they weren’t helping in this case. Instead I urged him to practice some subtle exercise/stretches which worked incredibly well for him.

He said “It seems crazy how these exercises help – I feel like I am barely doing anything.” His condition is vastly improved. By continuing exercises and acupuncture, he has an effective way to handle a flare up. Greg is on the path of getting his life back and NOT having to get surgery!

Acupuncture is mostly well known for its ability to treat pain. Why does it work?

There are many theories and speculations but the main thing is it does! From a Chinese medicine perspective, pain is caused by a stagnation of flow. When there is a stagnation of blood flow, energy flow and limited nerve conductance we experience pain! Acupuncture needles placed in the proper places open up that flow and create pain relief. Incredible if you ask me.

In addition, in my work I sometimes teach my patients a technique they can use on their own any time to relieve their pain to speed the healing process along.

Cupping is another modality that can really relieve pain and tension. Using glass cups, suction is created on the area that hurts. Chinese liniment oil applied to the skin makes it easy to slide the cups around the affected area, releasing stagnation. Cupping feels so good!

Whether you experience pain in your joints, muscles or limbs acupuncture offers a non-invasive healing modality that works!