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.

Acupuncture for painful periods (Dysmenorrhoea)

Patient

36 year old female IT project manager. Long daily commute. Very busy at work, often forget to drink anything for a whole day. 

Presenting symptoms

- Lower abdominal cramp at period time

- Passing large dark black blood clots during period

- Fatigue

- Premenstrual tension two days before period starts

- Poor circulation, cold hands and feet

- Difficult to fall asleep and stay sleep

Outcome

After 1st session: Slept well after treatment and remained so for the rest of the week. Improved frequency of bowel movement. Energy level also increased, no more energy dips in the day. 

After 2nd session: Period went smoothly. No pain on day 1, Pain started on day 2 however much better than before. A little pain by day 3. 

Patient was discharged after five sessions of acupuncture.

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 whiplash injury/neck and should pain

The patient

Office worker in his 40s suffering from neck and shoulder pain since a car accident. Patient was referred from his physiotherapist after his treatments reached a plateau. 

Presenting symptoms

- Limited range of movements in the neck and shoulder

- Stabbing should pain 

- Disturbed sleep from the pain

Treatment

Patient received 6 weekly acupuncture treatments through insurance cover. Moxibustion and cupping were also used to aid recovery. He gradually regained his movements in the neck and shoulder while the pain level reduced. Patient was discharged at the end of the treatment block following satisfactory results.

Exercise

Patient was referred back to his physio for assessment and was given further exercises to do to consolidate the treatment effects.

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 morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum (HG))

Morning sickness hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)

The patient

HR manager in her 30s who is generally healthy.

Presenting symptoms

Patient suffered from a severe form of morning sickness in the first trimester. The constant nausea and vomiting meant she had to take sick leave from work.

Outcome

Symptoms subsided after one session of acupuncture and the patient was able to return to work the following week. Patient was discharged at follow up session.

Ivy's thoughts

Morning sickness commonly occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy and it's a phase that will pass for majority of women. There are anti-sickness bands available for purchase over the counter in high street pharmacies which involves wearing a bracelet on the forearm. It works by applying pressure on acupuncture points. It doesn't work for everyone because it is often difficult for patients to put it on the correct location for it to work. From a Chinese medicine point of view, the underlying condition needs to be addressed at the same time. Therefore if you are one of the few that suffers severely it is recommended to go and see a qualified acupuncturist for treatment.

Acupuncture is a very gentle method of treatment throughout pregnancy (also see acupuncture for lower back pain). Good results can be expected after a short treatment cycle. 

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.