Arthritis

Osteo-Arthritis responds very well to acupuncture. I enjoy a great deal of success in helping to alleviate the pain, inflammation, swelling and stiffness associate with this common disease.

Because the disease attacks the skeleton, arthritis may be present in any bone/joint – and is found in many of the elderly population, where it can also be described as ‘wear and tear’ following diagnosis by x-ray. Earlier onset can occur in children onwards, but this form is less common.

Most people’s experience of arthritis is as a dull, occasional achy pain in one or more of their joints – which can develop into more acute and troublesome symptoms. When this happens, it’s fair to say the arthritis disease is active at this point, and it can usually be picked up through a blood test indicated by the presence of inflammatory markers. In most cases, this active phase of the disease is relatively short-lived, but the symptoms can linger for months afterwards, in the form of residual swelling and stubborn pain.

Acupuncture can help, not only to calm down the effects of an active arthritis episode, but also to clear up left-over symptoms when it eventually goes dormant. It can help in the following-:

Neck pain

This is characterised by stiffness and sometimes pain upon turning the head from side to side. There can also be the presence of local inflammation and pain upon the vertebrae in the upper back and neck. The pain, either dull or sharp – can also refer into the shoulder blade and/or cap, into the upper arm and/or whole arm – and sometimes into the fingers.

These symptoms usually respond very favourably to a course of acupuncture, and in most cases I look to completely alleviate them during a course of 4-6 weekly treatments. Sometimes more are required, but mostly these can be spaced out at longer intervals.

Lower Back pain

Lower back ache may show as ‘lumbago’ – an ache across the whole lower back, or be just one sided – where it can refer into the buttock and leg as sciatica. Pain and stiffness may also be felt just locally upon the spine, in cases of wear and tear –or arthritis – on the spine.

Usually, 3-4 treatments are sufficient to produce a significant improvement in symptoms – if not to alleviate them. In more complex cases, more treatments may be required.

 

Shoulder pain

Symptoms caused from arthritic shoulders are usually located locally around the shoulder cap, and mostly refer down the front part of the upper arm as far as the Bicep, usually a dull ache. Sometimes, pins and needles and/or numbness can also be experienced down the arm, but more typically in the fingers or back of the hand.

I enjoy good success in treating these symptoms – and generally good relief can be achieved within 3-4 acupuncture treatments.

Hip pain

Arthritic hips usually present as a dull ache, locally upon the hip, but the symptoms can also refer into the groin, and also down the outside of the thigh into the front of the knee.

In the main, these symptoms respond well to a course of acupuncture, and generally between 4-6 treatments are required to ease them

Knee joint

Arthritis typically attacks behind the knee cap, and so this is where the usual dull ache occurs – as well as commonly on the inside of the knee.

Again, I usually enjoy great success in treating painful and stiff knees, and the majority of cases require only 3-4 visits to ease the symptoms, although obviously more severe cases will require more.

Heel pain

Heel pain (or Policemans heel) can be very painful, because in our everyday life, we are left with little choice other to walk – and on an area of inflammation this will of course hurt.

I usually achieve good results in treating this condition, and in mild cases, 3-4 visits is normally enough, but in more severe cases, allow between 4-8 treatments to calm things down.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is by its nature a very different disease, and I can help to minimise the side effects in mild cases, but in my experience, generally more severe cases are best treated by other means – whether conventionally or holistically.

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Click here to read what previous clients thought about their treatment for Arthritis.