top of page

Pain

Acupuncture Can Give Long-Lasting Relief

Living with chronic pain makes you live in the moment, but it's an endless moment consumed with trying to figure out how to make it stop, even for just five minutes.  

​

In the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pain is treatable no matter how the pain started and no matter whether it is a recent injury or occurred decades ago.  You could have lower back pain due to a herniated disc, or a recent sprained ankle from falling, or maybe you're recovering from hip surgery. You could be suffering from chronic migraines, pain in your heels, arthritis in your hands, or limb pain from neuropathy.  All of these symptoms and conditions will respond to treatment with TCM, which may include acupuncture, fire cupping, Chinese herbal medicine, or moxibustion.  For more detail on these, click the Treatment Methods button in the main menu.

It's a myth that acupuncture only gives temporary relief.  The length of relief from each acupuncture treatment varies for each person and depends upon the condition being treated and how long you've had the pain.  It also depends upon the level of skill and experience of the practitioner.

 

Most people get sudden and immediate relief during the treatment, while some others feel tender the night of treatment and wake up the next day feeling relief.  This relief, be it immediate or the next day, may last hours, days, or weeks. 

 

The goal of each treatment is to lengthen the period of relief so that the frequency of treatment is gradually reduced until you no longer need treatment, which is when the pain is gone or much more manageable.

TCM Can Relieve Pain Caused By All Kinds Of Conditions

  1. disc herniations or bulges with referred pain

  2. sciatic pain

  3. arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis)

  4. acute injuries like sprains and strains or "throwing your back out"

  5. post-surgery recovery

  6. neuropathy

  7. migraines and headaches

  8. trigeminal neuralgia

  9. post-concussion syndrome

  10. jaw pain (TMJD)

This list is not exhaustive. If your condition is not listed here, it can still be treated.

Acupuncture Is Effective for Pain in Every Region of the Body

  • head

  • jaw

  • neck

  • upper back

  • shoulders

  • elbows

  • forearms

  • wrists

  • fingers

  • lower back

  • hips/buttocks

  • thighs

  • knees

  • calves 

  • ankles

  • toes

Relief for Migraines and Headaches

Migraines are severe headaches accompanied by disturbances to your vision like seeing spots or feeling sensitive to light, along with nausea or vomiting.  

 

Migraines and headaches are extremely common in Calgary due to the abrupt changes in weather that we experience, called Chinooks. Though some may call the association between wind and pain nonsense, it was written about in great detail nearly 2000 years ago in the treasured book Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) by Zhang Zhongjing.  

​

People who suffer from chronic migraines or headaches typically need regular acupuncture treatment for several months, and it is important to have your complete health history assessed. Any other symptoms you may have, not necessarily occurring at the same time as the migraine, are relevant to determining the root cause.  Each person experiences migraines uniquely and treatment is tailored to your individual needs.

​

bottom of page