Musculoskeletal

Problems with the musculoskeletal system can result in inflammation and pain and, ultimately, reduce the body’s overall health. Acupuncture is a good choice for therapy because it has no side effects and can be helpful for all types of pain, regardless of what is causing the pain or where the pain is located.

In a German study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, over a thousand adults with chronic lower back pain were divided into groups treated with either 1) standard pharmaceutical and exercise therapy commonly used in conventional medicine or 2) acupuncture. The researchers reported that acupuncture provided relief and lasting benefits to nearly twice as many lower back pain patients as drugs and exercise did.

How We Help With...

Neck & Back pain has become more prevalent in today’s modern age with sedentary desk work becoming the new norm. Studies have shown that acupuncture is extremely effective for acute and chronic neck/back pain, regardless of whether caused by muscle or ligament sprain, degenerative disease or arthritis. In most cases, it is a relatively straightforward condition to diagnose and treat with acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. It’s common for patients with back pain to feel relief with only a few sessions.

In order to get to the root of the problem, we will dig deeper regarding the type of pain and how it feels, what time of day is the worst, and what movements make the pain better or worse. Based on all this information, we are able to diagnose the exact nature of each patient’s pain pattern, and create a patient-specific treatment strategy for optimal results. We also educate the patient regarding lifestyle changes, diet adjustment, and proper exercise. A large referral network of other practitioners (physical therapy, chiropractic, massage) is available if we feel another therapy would be beneficial.

Frozen Shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, begins with stiffness and pain in the shoulder. Over time, the pain gradually increases until the whole area is no longer able to move. Lack of physical movement of the arms and shoulders increases the risk for developing adhesive capsulitis which will restrict the mobility of affected shoulder/arm even more, hence the name Frozen Shoulder. We can assist in bringing mobility back to the shoulder and reducing pain. By inserting needles on acupuncture points that are related to the shoulder area, the treatment encourages Qi and blood to move into the area. Qi is the most basic, fundamental energy source that all life needs to exist. When Qi flows unimpeded into an injured part of the body, blood follows and brings with it the healing and lubricating agents needed to reduce the symptoms of frozen shoulder.

Most knee pain is related to arthritis which is one of the most pervasive diseases in the US and is the leading cause of disability. For most, arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. Joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis, knee injury, bursitis, iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, meniscal tear can all be managed with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Studies provide evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain and physical dysfunction associated with osteoarthritis in the knee. Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize arthritis as one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, E-Stim, Chinese herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body.

We will examine you, take a look at the onset of your condition and learn your signs and symptoms to determine your diagnosis and choose the appropriate acupuncture points and treatment plan. We also effectively treats runners knee, patella tendonitis, bursitis, and mild non-surgical collateral ligament injuries.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are able to treat Plantar fasciitis, Morton’s Neuroma, bone spurs, bunions and other common foot problems and foot pain with great success.

The first step is to get fitted for orthotics or inserts from your orthopedic physician. This helps control the abnormal mechanical structure of your foot and allows the metatarsal bones to splay or spread out naturally. Secondly, acupuncture and herbs are used to decrease the inflammation, break up any scar tissue and stop the pain. We combine acupuncture, Chinese herbal supplements and warm foot soaks.

As with all conditions, we will look at the onset of your condition and what your constitutional diagnosis is to determine if Oriental Medicine can help you. Each case is unique and it is difficult to determine how effective acupuncture will be for you without a full assessment.

Tendonitis is a painful condition resulting from inflammation of the tendons. Tendons are thick bands of strong fibrous tissue that link bone to muscle. Although they are designed to withstand extreme pressure, certain circumstances can produce swelling and pain in the area. Sometimes, performing the same movements repetitively over a long period of time can lead to tendonitis. At other times, a sudden or jarring traumatic event can be the cause. The areas most commonly prone to tendonitis include the base of the thumb, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and the Achilles tendon. No matter what body part is affected, acupuncture and Oriental medicine may help provide relief and speed up recovery time. Tennis elbow and Golf elbow are among the most common tendonitis cases we treat at Lumina AcuClinic.
The terms herniated, slipped or ruptured disc all refer to a problem affecting the intervertebral spinal discs. If the herniation is in the neck or cervical portion of the spine, then pain, numbness, weakness or tingling may be felt in the arms and shoulders. A hernia lower on the spine can cause symptoms such as burning, tingling or other unpleasant sensations in the buttocks, legs and even the feet. For patients who require medical treatment, acupuncture and Oriental medicine can offer many benefits to assist with the healing process. While administering acupuncture and Oriental medicine can reduce symptoms of a herniated disc, it cannot push the disc back into place. The good news, however, is that it can help restore range of motion and reduce pain and other unwanted sensations.

Additional Conditions We Treat

Hip Pain

Ankle Pain

Hand & Wrist Pain

Tennis & Golf Elbow

Arthritis

TMJ

What Patients Say

I’ve been Dr. Yu’s patient for 8 months and she has worked wonders. As a former college athlete and current exercise enthusiast, I have decades of wear and tear on my body. I was referred to Ann by my physician to receive treatment for debilitating nerve pain in my elbow and chronic back pain. After a few months of regular treatments my elbow pain dissipated and I was able to resume upper-body resistance training for the first time in three years. I held little hope that Dr. Yu could address my back issues. A litany of tests over the years show significant structural issues. Moreover, the list of highly regarded physicians and physical therapists, including specialists from Cedars-Sinai and Duke Spine Center, who have attempted and ultimately failed to treat my chronic back issues over the years is lengthy. Much to my surprise and delight, after several months in Ann’s care my back pain has significantly diminished. Ann’s professionalism and medical expertise are without question, but it’s her patience and compassion that created the safe environment I needed to trust the process.
C.P.
I entered her office with numbness, tingling and acute discomfort that day. She greeted me with that warm smile, addressed my questions about acupuncture and then thoroughly informed me on what would happen next. I was in awe and amazed on the fact that she inserted 3 needles near my thumb and right wrist area and within 30 seconds or less my extreme discomfort was gone. I can say that my bursitis has nearly dissipated. I really appreciate the holistic atmosphere that Lumina Acuclinic presents. From the time you enter the door my mental senses goes into RR mode (soft music, water trickling, aromatherapy in place). Thank you Ann for your genuine concern for my health as well as sharing in my successes.
R.C.
I was in an auto accident two and a half months ago. Another speeding car hit mine from behind while I was stopped. This resulted in severe head, neck, shoulders, back and ankle pain. I had been going to a chiropractor for about six weeks which resulted in about fifty percent relief of my pain, but as I continued with this form of treatment the pain was not decreasing. Instead, I began to hurt more during and after each treatment. It was at this time that someone recommended that I visit Lumina AcuClinic. After my first visit and treatment I felt a dramatic relief from my pains. Since then my relief has been progressive with each treatment. I have been treated twice a week for the past two weeks, and at this point I feel well over ninety five percent improved.
E.W.
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Source: Acufinder