Li Lin, PhD, LAc
Introduction: acupuncture is known for pain relief. We report some typical cases here to support that acupuncture can instantly relieve pain at different areas of the body.
Facial pain: a 63-year-old African American woman presented with trigeminal neuralgia at the right side of her face and nose. She had the facial pain for 24 years since she had a car accident in 1986. After the first acupuncture treatment, the pain was less. She had the second acupuncture treatment the next day. The facial pain was gone after the second treatment. In the following one year, her trigeminal neuralgia flared up every two months. Every time the pain flared up, she came right way for one acupuncture treatment to put the trigeminal neuralgia into remission.
Headache, Ear pain: a 56-year-old woman complained that she had constant neck pain, ear pain, migraine at the right side of her body since 2009. The pain was very sharp, radiating to her right arm as well. In addition, she also complained of pain in her left chest and left molar. During the first acupuncture treatment, patient stated that she felt that the pain was taken away right after the needles were inserted. After the first acupuncture treatment, she had 2 pain-free days. The pain reoccured on the 3rd day, but in less degree. After six sessions of acupuncture treatment, the pain did not reoccur.
Neck pain: a 47-year-old woman complained of neck pain. She stated that she had hurt her neck while she was throwing up two days ago. Vomiting was gone, but the pain in the neck was consistent. Her shoulder felt tight too. She was given 30-minute acupuncture treatment. After the acupuncture treatment, the neck pain was gone and her shoulder was less tight.
Shoulder pain: a 17-year-old football player complained of pain in his right shoulder. He injured his right shoulder a week ago. He also had chronic pain in his neck, lower back and right hip joint. After the first acupuncture treatment, he stated that he was free from pain.
Hand pain: a 65-year-old woman had pain in her right thumb due to overuse. During the acupuncture treatment, she felt the pain was decreasing. After the acupuncture treatment, she stated that there was no more pain.
Upper back pain: a 51-year-old woman complained of pain in her neck and upper back, especially between T1 to T7. She is a professor, often sitting in one position for a long time. After the first acupuncture treatment, she stated that the pain was gone. However, the pain gradually came back with less degree two days after. She had her second acupuncture treatment seven days after the first one. After the second acupuncture treatment, the pain was gone. Seven days after the second treatment, she came back with pain between T1 to T5, and she had her third acupuncture treatment. After the third acupuncture treatment, her pain was gone. During the follow-up check up one month later, she stated that her upper back was pain free since the third acupuncture treatment.
Low-back pain: a 49-year-old man complained of severe pain in his low back. He had a history of chronic lower back pain. He just played tennis, and the pain in his lower back became very severe. When he came in, he could not straighten his back. During the acupuncture treatment, patient stated that the pain subsided. After the acupuncture treatment, he could straighten his back and walk without pain.
Groin pain: a 53-year-old woman complained of severe pain in her left groin radiating down to her knee. She had three abdominal surgeries before. There was severe adhesion formed in her pelvic cavity. She also had Fibromylgia. She was suggested by her neurologist to have surgery to cut the nerves. She decided to seek help from acupuncture before surgery. After the first acupuncture treatment, she stated that the pain was much less. She could lift up her left leg and walk without limping. So, she canceled her surgery appointment and continued acupuncture treatment. After four treatments, she was completely pain free.
Knee pain: a 21-year-old woman complained that both of her knees had pain. She is a soccer player. She injured her knees during practice. After 30-minute of acupuncture treatment, she could bend her knees, kick and walk without pain.
Heel pain: a 45-year-old woman complained of pain in both heels. She worked as a chef, constantly on her feet. After the first acupuncture treatment, she had less pain in her heels. After three acupuncture treatments, her heels were free from pain.
Foot pain: a 60-year-old man complained of pain in both big toes. He wore iron boots during work. After the first acupuncture treatment, his big toes were free from pain.
Conclusion: Based on our clinical observation, acupuncture can instantly relieve the pain in most cases. In some cases, the pain will be gone by one treatment. In other cases, the pain will reoccur later on and patients need more acupuncture sessions to completely get rid of the pain. In very few cases, patients don't get any relief from acupuncture.
Facial pain: a 63-year-old African American woman presented with trigeminal neuralgia at the right side of her face and nose. She had the facial pain for 24 years since she had a car accident in 1986. After the first acupuncture treatment, the pain was less. She had the second acupuncture treatment the next day. The facial pain was gone after the second treatment. In the following one year, her trigeminal neuralgia flared up every two months. Every time the pain flared up, she came right way for one acupuncture treatment to put the trigeminal neuralgia into remission.
Headache, Ear pain: a 56-year-old woman complained that she had constant neck pain, ear pain, migraine at the right side of her body since 2009. The pain was very sharp, radiating to her right arm as well. In addition, she also complained of pain in her left chest and left molar. During the first acupuncture treatment, patient stated that she felt that the pain was taken away right after the needles were inserted. After the first acupuncture treatment, she had 2 pain-free days. The pain reoccured on the 3rd day, but in less degree. After six sessions of acupuncture treatment, the pain did not reoccur.
Neck pain: a 47-year-old woman complained of neck pain. She stated that she had hurt her neck while she was throwing up two days ago. Vomiting was gone, but the pain in the neck was consistent. Her shoulder felt tight too. She was given 30-minute acupuncture treatment. After the acupuncture treatment, the neck pain was gone and her shoulder was less tight.
Shoulder pain: a 17-year-old football player complained of pain in his right shoulder. He injured his right shoulder a week ago. He also had chronic pain in his neck, lower back and right hip joint. After the first acupuncture treatment, he stated that he was free from pain.
Hand pain: a 65-year-old woman had pain in her right thumb due to overuse. During the acupuncture treatment, she felt the pain was decreasing. After the acupuncture treatment, she stated that there was no more pain.
Upper back pain: a 51-year-old woman complained of pain in her neck and upper back, especially between T1 to T7. She is a professor, often sitting in one position for a long time. After the first acupuncture treatment, she stated that the pain was gone. However, the pain gradually came back with less degree two days after. She had her second acupuncture treatment seven days after the first one. After the second acupuncture treatment, the pain was gone. Seven days after the second treatment, she came back with pain between T1 to T5, and she had her third acupuncture treatment. After the third acupuncture treatment, her pain was gone. During the follow-up check up one month later, she stated that her upper back was pain free since the third acupuncture treatment.
Low-back pain: a 49-year-old man complained of severe pain in his low back. He had a history of chronic lower back pain. He just played tennis, and the pain in his lower back became very severe. When he came in, he could not straighten his back. During the acupuncture treatment, patient stated that the pain subsided. After the acupuncture treatment, he could straighten his back and walk without pain.
Groin pain: a 53-year-old woman complained of severe pain in her left groin radiating down to her knee. She had three abdominal surgeries before. There was severe adhesion formed in her pelvic cavity. She also had Fibromylgia. She was suggested by her neurologist to have surgery to cut the nerves. She decided to seek help from acupuncture before surgery. After the first acupuncture treatment, she stated that the pain was much less. She could lift up her left leg and walk without limping. So, she canceled her surgery appointment and continued acupuncture treatment. After four treatments, she was completely pain free.
Knee pain: a 21-year-old woman complained that both of her knees had pain. She is a soccer player. She injured her knees during practice. After 30-minute of acupuncture treatment, she could bend her knees, kick and walk without pain.
Heel pain: a 45-year-old woman complained of pain in both heels. She worked as a chef, constantly on her feet. After the first acupuncture treatment, she had less pain in her heels. After three acupuncture treatments, her heels were free from pain.
Foot pain: a 60-year-old man complained of pain in both big toes. He wore iron boots during work. After the first acupuncture treatment, his big toes were free from pain.
Conclusion: Based on our clinical observation, acupuncture can instantly relieve the pain in most cases. In some cases, the pain will be gone by one treatment. In other cases, the pain will reoccur later on and patients need more acupuncture sessions to completely get rid of the pain. In very few cases, patients don't get any relief from acupuncture.
310 Kildaire Road
Suite 104
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: (919) 590-9870
Fax: (919) 590-1870
Suite 104
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: (919) 590-9870
Fax: (919) 590-1870
Pain Relief by Acupuncture
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310 Kildaire Road, Suite 104, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
www.SouthernVillageAcupuncture.com
310 Kildaire Road, Suite 104, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
www.SouthernVillageAcupuncture.com
M. Michael Chou, MS, LAc