Acupuncture for Sports Injury and Trauma by Dr. Leia Melead

I have been suffering with chronic inflammation and have been given really dangerous drugs to take and I am really interested in finding alternative ways to take care of this issue.

Dear Rachel, Chronic inflammation indicates that your body is fighting off an infection or an irritation, but it is not successful in completely eradicating it. Since you didn't mention what type of inflammation, it is difficult to offer you specific advice. If you are in contact with any toxic substances, such as strong smelling hair products, paints, etc., in your workplace or living space, you may want to replace them with non toxic more natural choices in case these toxins are causing your inflammation. If you are seeking alternative natural ways to help your body find optimum health, you might want to consider visiting an Acupuncturist or a Naturopathic Doctor. They could then thoroughly evaluate your situation and treat you for your specific type of inflammation. Acupuncture is helpful for balancing your body's energy meridians, which stimulate the body's immune or defense system and it increases your Qi, or body's life force. Go here to learn more about Acupuncture and it's benefits: http://www.healthynewage.com/spirit-series.html Good luck in your healing journey.

Hi, I recently severely stretched or tore what I think is my Trapezius muscle on the upper left half of my back while snowboarding. I was just wondering if you have any tips to promote muscle healing.

Dear Danny. Immediately after an injury to a muscle, it is wise to ice it as soon as possible. By icing the muscle, you bring down the inflammation and swelling. Thereafter, when the injury is older and more chronic, warmth and heat are important for it to heal. Therapeutic ultrasound to the area may help to speed up the healing process, and also, Acupuncture, which will get the blood and qi flowing more quickly and help the pain.

Hi, I am at the point of giving up on a sport that I love, tennis. The trouble is there is a lot of pain in both knees, it isn't bone but the soft tissue material. Stiffness, inflamed, sore to touch etc. I was advised to try insoles to ensure a raising of my arches, as they were both quite flat. At first I was hopeful, but the pain persists. I coach tennis and am worried that I will have to quit. I'd love to hear that the pain will go away and the problem fixed. Do you know of cases where chronic knee pain has been eradicated using alternative methods? I don't want surgery. Best wishes, Christy.

Dear Christy, Since each person has different and varying degrees of pain and discomfort, and differing causes, I cannot guarantee your response to alternative therapies. I can just say three words to you: "Please try Acupuncture." You will never know unless you try. Here is a link to a product, which in combination with Acupuncture may give relief for your problem > Elixir Testimonials. Good Luck, and let us know.

I have been plagued with pain in the buttocks area and tingles from the calf and into the foot for about 4 weeks. I am a runner and also have been doing Power Yoga for several years. I moved recently and was going up and down the stairs and still trying to maintain my level of fitness. Now I cannot do any exercise. I went to an acupuncturist and am supposed to go back next week. I felt great after many needles were inserted into my body two days ago but since then I feel more pain in the buttocks area and the tingle has returned. Does it take some time for acupuncture to work and is rest the best thing for me until I have gone to several sessions of acupuncture? I do believe this is either a herniated disc or sciatica since I have been running for 35 years. Do you think that the best thing is acupuncture and being patient to see results.

Dear Gayle, Thank you for questioning about your reaction to acupuncture treatment. It does take time for acupuncture to work and there are varying reactions to each session, depending upon the person's constitution and her injury. I always tell my patients to give acupuncture a fair chance, and this may mean at least 5-6 acupuncture sessions before giving up on it. After the initial treatment, I caution patients that one of three reactions can occur, No response at all, worse pain than before the treatment, which usually subsides and then the pain lessens or disappears, or almost instantaneous relief which may or may not stay with you. All three of these scenarios are valid and does not mean that acupuncture is not working. Rather, it is a good sign that things are moving and that you can respond to acupuncture. Consider your meridians as channels of energy in your body with points along these channels, which are called the acupoints or acupuncture points where the needles are inserted. If you compare your meridians to a water hose, you will see why you are getting pain and why the pain is relieved. When the water hose is turned on, and the water begins to flow, but the spicket is not opened, then the water hose will dance around like a snake until the spicket is opened and the water is released. The water is blocked in the hose until it is opened to release the flow through the hose. Your body is very similar to this analogy. The Chi or Qi is flowing through the channels or meridians of the body. When you have an injury or trauma or pain, this means that the Qi is stuck and not freely flowing through the channel. When your acupuncturist puts a pin or needle into an acupoint along a stuck meridian, then the Qi is released and the pain will disappear. However, all injuries are different and depending upon the severity or the cause of the pain, acupuncture will take varying amounts of time to relieve the situation. So, to answer your questions, yes, it may take more time, so have patience. Also, you might want to get checked out for a herniated disc if you suspect this problem. An MRI will tell if there is a disc herniation and how severe the problem may be. You might want to ask your acupuncturist about Wei patches, from California, which are Chinese herbal patches with help with disc problems and sciatic problems. They are amazing patches which do not only alleviate the pain, but help to restore the disc back to its original position with the help of acupuncture, of course. Good luck to you, and may you heal fully.

Hello, I've had chronic inflammation or muscle soreness in my shoulder blade and sternum areas for the past 7 months. It's non-cardiac, and they say it's inflammation, although I don't remember any activity that could have brought it on. I also have chronic neck and upper back or Trapezius soreness. I was in an accident 4 years ago, which I'm sure contributes to the tension headaches I get. I've been to the doctor numerous times. Each time, he prescribes medications that I just don't want to take. I'm taking Nexium for repeated heartburn, indigestion, and nausea. I'm 27 and have never been sick in my life prior to these sudden events. My mom did pass a year ago, so I don't know if it's partly emotional stress too. In any case, I'm just tired and want to get back to normal like I've been. I'm tired of going to my doctor because I feel he doesn't have answers either. I've had x-rays and MRIs which show no problems, but there has to be a reason why I feel this way. There is a problem and I'm just so frustrated that no one can tell me what that is exactly. Can acupuncture help me?

Dear Arrington, Acupuncture is an effective treatment modality for all types of pain and also for stress and emotions. During an acupuncture treatment, the patient lies on a treatment table either face up or face down, and the acupuncturist inserts tiny needles or pins into strategic points on the body which are called acupuncture points. The pins are usually not painful and normally do not draw blood, and after wards, they have the effect of relaxing the muscles of the body where they are placed, making the body feel light and taking away the tension. In addition to relaxing the physical body, acupuncture also relaxes the mind and the emotions, thus making acupuncture an effective modality for treating stress. You might want to give acupuncture a chance to see if it will work for you. Also, please ask your doctor to check you for gall bladder problems or gall stones, because sometimes, pain and tension around the scapula and upper back area can be an indication of gall bladder dysfunction. By the way, acupuncture may help your headaches also. Good luck in exploring acupuncture.

I partially tore my MCL (2nd degree sprain) about 4 weeks ago. At this point, pain and swelling are ebb and flow, but I cannot fully extend or bend my leg. There may be other torn ligaments as well, but only partially. Can acupuncture help ligament ailments so fresh after the accident?

Dear Sara, acupuncture would be the preferred healing modality to use so soon after the accident because it helps to increase the Chi and blood in the area of the injury and will also speed up the recovery time. Time and again throughout the ages, Acupuncture has proven to reduce inflammation, swelling, edema, and increase the body's immune system. I highly recommend Acupuncture for you sooner than later. Please feel free to share your experience with us.

Around a year ago or more I went over on my left foot in the middle of a football match. I carried on with no 'real' pain, a little discomforting, but nothing serious. Now to this date now and again during a match my foot in the same area really hurts if I put too much pressure on, I'm sidelined at the moment and was wondering if Acupuncture would help it out. It's at the point were the ankle joins with the foot. I just want to get back playing football, but its impossible as the pain strikes a lot during every match forcing me to leave the field. So it's been about 3 months now, rest and some tablets my doctor gave me to relieve the pain and I have had little to no improvement as far as I can tell. Will Acupuncture sort this out?

Dear Andy T, as you can read, all of the above questions are related to physical injuries or traumas and each person is inquiring whether acupuncture will be suitable for them to assist in the healing process. It is difficult to promise that acupuncture will help to heal your problem over the internet, but it is definitely worth a try. Why don't you try it, then when you have experienced it for yourself come back to us and let us know of your experiences with acupuncture? Please read my answer to Gayle above to learn more about acupuncture theory and to learn how much time to allow the acupuncture treatments to work effectively before giving up on it. You have sustained a chronic trauma now and the body needs rest,support, and treatment with acupuncture to return back to the normal functioning. Three months may seem like a long time to you, however, it is best to recover fully before going back into the game, otherwise you will re-injure yourself and then it will take even longer to heal. Good luck!