Acupuncture for lower back pain

Acupuncture for lower back pain

Acupuncture for lower back pain, image resource

The patient

This male patient reported severe lower back pain after playing basketball. He was in constant pain all day and had very limited range of movements.

Treatment

Patient received one session of acupuncture.

Outcome

Patient was pain free the following day.

Testimonial

" Pulled lower back muscle after my son was born two years ago, I stopped doing any sort of exercises and did a lot of lot of bending over activities, e.g. changing nappies/wishing his clothes/playing with him/carrying him around. I have recently started doing some exercises which are all fine. Only one day I played basketball and my back was so painful that I could not even walk. I tried ice bag, hot tub and lower back support, they just had limited pain relief and I once thought it could be a disc misallocation and I might not be able to walk again.

Ivy was so helpful and after the consultation she told me not to worry too much, it might just be pulled lower back muscle, it was in fact correct. After one acupuncture session, my back pain was gone and I can hold my son, walk around and starting exercise again! 

Thanks Ivy! "

Acupuncture for migraine and headache

The patient

This female patient used to experience monthly one sided migraine attack and regular headaches. She often felt tension in her jaw and could hear clicking noise. A long day of work would normally bring on the neck and shoulder tension. Patient is in her 40s and splits her working days between the office and home.

Treatment

Weekly acupuncutre treatments with advice on exercise, diet and lifestyle.

Outcome

Her migraine attack stopped after 2 treatments and no longer has headaches. Her neck and shoulder tension was reduced from 5 to 2 out of 10. Patient now receives maintenance treatments every three weeks or so as she finds the treatment helps relieve symptoms brought on by stress. 

Testimonial

"I starting coming to see Ivy to be treated for regular migraines & jaw issues caused by tension & bad posture.  Immediately I felt that progress was being made, as well as Ivy making me more aware of lifestyle, surroundings, diet changes etc which have also made a significant difference.

The acupuncture, along with heat treatment & cupping has resulted in me having no migraines at all for 6 weeks, as well as other benefits such as better sleeping & feeling more relaxed. The progress has been amazing, & I would recommend acupuncture to anyone now & have in fact recommended it to other family members who have all had similar positive results."

Acupuncture for migraine headaches, image source

Acupuncture for headaches and dizzy spells

The patient

Busy sales manager in his 50s. Patient first experienced head strain 5 years ago which developed into frequent headaches. Numbness and tingling sensation can be felt at the back of the head, headache and sharp pain behind right eye. Severe dizzy spell at times. No related finding through MRI scans to suggest cause.

The treatment

Weekly acupuncture sessions. Advised patient to stop consuming alcohol, greasy foods.

Outcome

Headache and pain behind the eye gradually declined as treatment went on, finally ceased completed after session six. Patient hardly suffers from dizzy spells. 

Testimonial 

"I consulted with Ivy after having experienced several years of headaches and dizzy spells without any obvious cause.

Following a series of acupuncture sessions, these symptoms have reduced considerably and I would not hesitate to return for more treatment if required. "

Acupuncture can be a very effective treatment method for other types of headaches. If you would like further information on this blog or to discuss any conditions you would like to be treated, please do not hesitate to contact me via email ivyxxu@xuclinic.co.uk.

Acupuncture for headaches, image source

Acupuncture for sports injury - shoulder, forearm

Acupuncture for sports injury - shoulder, forearm

The patient

40 years old Graphic designer. Trains 4 times a week in the gym as well as weekly military fitness training. Enjoys up to 6 cups of coffee a day. 

Presenting symptoms

Acupuncture for shoulder, pins and needles, image source 

- Tight shoulder

- Pain in right forearm 

- Pins and needles in arms and hands

- Compromised grip
- Lethargic 
- Psoriasis on hands and body

Treatment and advice

Weekly sessions of acupuncture. Advised patient to cut down on the amount of coffee gradually. 

Outcome

After 3 session of acupuncture, patient reported the following improvements: 

- Elbow pain: 7 to 3 out of 10 
- Shoulder pain: 6 to 3 out of 10
- Pins and needles: 7 to 2 out of 10
- Noticeable improvement on psoriasis

Patient testimonial

"After my normal treatments for a weight training injury were unsuccessful I decided to try acupuncture. After my first session I felt an immediate improvement which continued with each visit. Ivy was very knowledgeable and had some great dietary advice which has improved my psoriasis also"

If you would like further information on this blog or to discuss any conditions you would like to be treated, please do not hesitate to contact me via email ivyxxu@xuclinic.co.uk.

Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis

Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The patient

An advertising executive in her early 60s suffering from rheumatoid arthritis on her fingers. Patient has a healthy diet and lifestyle. 

Presenting symptoms

- Visible joint enlargements

- Loss of grip

- Pain in both thumb, worse after work

- Back pain

Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis, image source http://thislupuslife.com/2015/03/03/rheumatoid-arthritis/

Treatment and advice

Weekly sessions of acupuncture. Advised patient to protect hands from elements and wear gloves when doing washing up etc. Gentle massage on fingers after typing all day.

Outcome

Back pain stopped after one session of acupuncture. Pain in thumb and joints reduced from 5 to 2 out of 10 after 3 sessions. Grip had also improved.

Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Acupuncture can be a very effective treatment to manage pain and prevent further deterioration on joints. The characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis is pain often gets worse when weather changes. Chinese medicine promotes the protection of joints from cold and wet elements in day to day use.

If you would like further information on this blog or to discuss any conditions you would like to be treated, please do not hesitate to contact me via email ivyxxu@xuclinic.co.uk.

Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The patient

Office worker in her mid 30s has been trying to conceive naturally without success for over two years. She had been taking the combined contraceptive pill for ten years previously. The patient has a fairly healthy diet and lifestyle.  She had difficulty dealing with family issues which had affected her sleep and menstruation. There is no excess hair grown and weight gain in her case.

Acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome, image source

The Patient was referred to the fertility clinic by her GP and subsequently diagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by the consultant in March. IVF was recommended to her as a choice of treatment however she wanted to explore natural therapy first.

Presenting symptoms

- Insomnia, patient had difficulty falling and staying asleep. Wakes up frequently in the early hours 
- Irregular menstrual cycle ranging from no bleed for up to two months and two periods within a month, passing dark blood clots
- No signs of any mid-cycle discharge or ovulation
- Mood swings

Treatment and advice

Patient received weekly acupuncture and was referred for counselling sessions to help manage her feelings from family affairs. Patient was suggested to start a period log to record dates, quality and associated symptoms.

Outcome

- Her sleep was greatly improved and could sleep through undisturbed
- Her menstrual cycle gradually formed a pattern to every 6-8 weeks
- Blood clots faded away
- Signs of mid-cycle ovulation became more and more prominent. Quality of the discharges had also improved which indicated increased fertility
- She was able to deal with family issues in a calmer manner
- By end of September, she found herself pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy in the following Spring!

Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Acupuncture treats Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by adjusting hormone imbalance and treating associated symptoms. It helped to improve uterine blood flow and stimulate ovulation. In this case, psychological issues was tackled at the same time to form a holistic approach to treatment. I recommend all my patients to start a period log which tells a lot about how their body is functioning and track progress of treatment. It also provides valuable clinical information should they decided to start IVF treatments in future.


If you would like further information on this blog or to discuss any conditions you would like to be treated, please do not hesitate to contact me via email ivyxxu@xuclinic.co.uk.

Acupuncture for infertility

The patient

A special needs teacher in her mid 40s had been trying for a baby for over two years without success. She lead a busy life and lived mainly on takeaways during the week. At the weekends she was often too tired to exercise.

Presenting symptoms

- Tiredness
- Passing blood clots during menstruation, painful periods

Treatment outcome

- Increased energy level
- Periods became symptom free and uneventful gradually 
- After 4 months of weekly acupuncture sessions, patient felt pregnant naturally and gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl!

Acupuncture for infertility, image resource

Diet and lifestyle changes

Regular exercise and a healthy diet is vital for optimising fertility. Patient went for a week delivery service of fresh fruit & vegetables to have more healthy home cooked meals. There are lots of good suppliers providing fresh ingredients and convenient recipe cards such as hellofresh, ideal for working professionals. She also went out for walks with her partner at weekends.  

Acupuncture for infertility

Although statically it becomes more and more difficult to conceive with age, with the help of improved diet and lifestyle and the assistance of complementary therapy, it is still achievable in the natural way. In the patient's case, acupuncture helped with natural conception by addressing her menstruation issues and enhancing overall wellbeing. 

If you would like further information on this blog or to discuss any conditions you would like to be treated, please do not hesitate to contact me via email ivyxxu@xuclinic.co.uk.