Archive for the ‘Musculo-Skeletal’ Category

The Use of Acupuncture and Moxabustion for Scar Tissue

Chief-complaint: Arm numbness & weakness due to trauma

Medical-history: A right-handed young man (~21), seen & treated at a volunteer shift at a homeless youth drop-in service center. We’ll call him Amadeus.

About a year previously, Amadeus got in a fight & was stabbed in the left arm, and then thrown in jail where he received almost zero medical attention. He had one wound up in the deltoid, and a more serious one about halfway up the ventral forearm. This trauma seems to have nearly severed his extensor digitorum (while he was in jail, he couldn’t move or feel his fingers). About 4 months after the initial injury, he had surgery to repair the injury.

March 15, 2010   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture and Herbs used for Shoulder Pain

Chief Complaint: Right shoulder pain in LI-15 area

Western Diagnosis: X ray confirms calcium deposit on anterior aspect of humerus, between heads of biceps brachii tendons.

Medical History: 41 y.o. female, attorney. First noticed the pain about two years ago while in a stressful court trial. Multiple Sclerosis diagnosed at age 19. Auto accident five years ago with subsequent back pain. Smokes cigarettes, drinks alcohol moderately, and acknowledges that she is overweight and doesn’t exercise enough. Diet consisted of a lot of business lunches eaten hurriedly while reading stacks of legal briefs. At present,the pain is a constant dull ache which occasional sharp stabbing sensations which make her feel nauseous. She has tried massage and chiropractic and is trying acupuncture as a last resort to surgery to remove the calcium deposit.

September 8, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture and Herbs for Heel Pain

Chief Complaint: Left Heel Pain

Medical History: At age 14, he was diagnosed with polio. And ever since then fear has been one of the predominating emotions in his life. In 1997, he voluntarily underwent a vasectomy. He felt this would allow him to engage in a fulfilling sexual lifestyle, without the worry of ever having any children.

He is a tall man, standing over 6′5, and possessing a very muscular physique. He is also currently undergoing marital strife, as I also treat his wife as well. There are seeking marriage counseling.

September 8, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture used for Low Back Pain and Hot Feet

Chief Complaint: lower back discomfort, hot feet.

Medical History: Female approx 50 + y.o.

Presenting Challenge: Discomfort in lower back last 12 months or so, can vary from sore or can’t get comfortable, to a sense of tired, weak. Also digestive challenges leading to diminished appetite pattern of irregular food intake due to varying work schedule.

Irregular menses last 2 years, last period 6mths or so ago.

Otherwise feels general health to be pretty good tho work schedules can be a bit taxing when busy.

September 8, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Metabolic, Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture and Herbs for Low Back Pain

Chief Complaint: lower back pain for 6 years

Western Diagnosis: L3-L5 Hyperosteogeny

Medical History: Patient has been suffering from lower back pain for 6 years, and the pain, accompanied with sciatica for 3 months, gets worse when he is tired. He had chiropractic treatment for 3 months, but it was not efficiently improved.

Pulse exam: Pulse is wiry and fast.

Tongue exam: Tongue is purplish and redish with little coating.

September 8, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Herbs and Acupuncture for Achelles Tendinitis

Chief Complaint: Achilles Tendinitis

Western Diagnosis: Achilles Tendinitis

Medical History: Patient, 62, with primary complaint of achilles heel tendinitis. She has been a ice skater for over twenty years and has only recently began feeling a fixed pain and swelling at KD3 to KD7 area.

She is slightly overweight with poor eating habits, yet has a good exercise regimine, exercising at least 4 times a week for at least 45 minutes.

September 8, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Sports Medicine with Acupuncture

Chief Complaint: big toe hurts, neck pain

Western Diagnosis: sports sprain

Medical History: a football athlete from Steelers, his left big toe hit the ground straight when playing football. No pain killers. Regular diet, no regular rest, a lot of competition

Questioning exam: Pain duration: one month.
Intensity: About 7-8, hurts all the time, ice makes it feel better.

September 8, 2009  Tags:   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

The Acupuncture Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Chief Complaint: Right shoulder pain

Medical History: Patient is a 54 year old female massage therapist seeing 10-15 people per week. She has been seeking help for this problem for the past 2 years with the results being that it takes the pain away yet it always returns. Her outlook is positive and she has healthy diet and exercise habits.

Questioning exam: The pain is worse stress and on palpitations her whole right side is tender along that gallbladder channel. Patient has bouts of insomnia which have no particular cycle.

September 8, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture Treatment for Hand Injury

Chief Complaint: Pain and immobility of hand

Western Diagnosis: Hand Crush Injury.

Medical History: Crush injury of right hand during work-accident.

Questioning exam: Continuous pain in right hand, immobility of hand and fingers with exacerbation of pain with movement. Insomnia, decline in libido and sexual performance since injury.

OM Diagnosis: Injury of PC channel, with attendant symptoms of PC organ, causing insomnia and sexual and libido decline.

September 8, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments

Acupuncture Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Chief Complaint: Shoulder pain and reduced ROM

Western Diagnosis: Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Shoulder pain

Medical History: 69 yr old lady, sedentary, average American diet, slightly obese, mentally and socially well adapted. On Beta blocker, lasix, glucophage, and human insulin.

Questioning exam: Patient reported that she’d like to be off all her medications and would like to be able to used her shoulders which had gradually deteriorated over a period of 1 year.

Pulse exam: Crepitis in shoulders with very restricted active ROM, and pain elicited on passive ROM study. Pulse Wide, slippery, firm and forceful.

September 8, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Musculo-Skeletal  No Comments