You will be asked to fill out some paperwork, as well as an extensive questionnaire involving your health history. We will then do a detailed interview to determine the imbalances of your body that’s causing your problem. We will feel your pulse and inspect your tongue for any signs of imbalance. We will be asking some questions which may sound a bit odd for first-timers to the world of Chinese medicine, but these questions are essential to determining the diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan that’s tailored specifically for you. The treatment methods may involve acupuncture, electroacupuncture, Chinese herbs, tui-na (traditional Chinese style soft tissue work), among other methods. (For more information regarding your first visit, click here.)

The fear of needles is one of the main issues that prevents more people from experiencing the benefits of acupuncture. Many of us were first exposed to needles at doctor’s offices through hypodermic needles, which are mainly used for injections. The myth is that since hypodermic needles are painful when pierced into our skin, that the acupuncture needles would be just as painful. Actually, acupuncture needles are much finer than hypodermic needles, and they’re almost as fine as the hair on our skin. Also, since they don’t have a lumen or a hole in the middle of the needle unlike the hypodermic needle, they are naturally thinner. An acupuncture needle would easily fit into the hole of a hypodermic needle. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that you would experience any significant pain during acupuncture. You could possibly feel the initial prick upon needle contact, but most patients just feel the dull, distending sensation around the needled area after the insertion of the needle, which is also called “Qi” sensation. Qi sensation signifies the arrival of Qi at that point, and is considered a beneficial aspect of the acupuncture treatment.

The answer depends on the individual condition, taking into account both the acute symptoms and the underlying constitutional make-up of the person. Typically, acute conditions respond faster to treatment than chronic conditions. And usually, the earlier you seek treatment, the better the result would be, requiring less time for healing (as attributed in the first article in this issue), thereby minimizing treatment expenses as well.

I’ve been injured at work. Is acupuncture covered by Worker’s Compensation Insurance? How can I receive acupuncture treatment?

Acupuncture has been shown to decrease pain, reduce inflammation, promote healing of injuries, and enhance mobility. Therefore, it is considered an appropriate form of treatment in many Worker’s Compensation cases. Yes, acupuncturists are primary care physicians under the Worker’s Compensation System, which means that you can receive acupuncture treatments without a physician referral, if you do not already have a designated primary treating physician at the time of injury. If you already have a designated primary treating physician (such as an MD, DO, or DC), you may still request to have acupuncture treatments through their referral. If you’re not sure who your designated primary treating physician is, you may obtain this information through your Human Resources Department. If you wish to have the designated primary treating physician changed to me, then you must submit this request in writing to your Human Resources Department, and keep a copy for yourself. Paperwork has a tendency to get misplaced in a bureaucratic setting, and it would save you a lot of headache if you keep a copy for yourself.

Keep in mind, however, that in Worker’s Compensation cases, we are only authorized to treat injuries that are sustained during work. Therefore, our main objective would be to restore your health to pre-injury status. If there are non-work-related issues that need to be treated, they would have to be addressed during another appointment session.

Do you take health insurance?

To enable us to focus more time on quality patient care instead of extensive insurance paperwork, our policy requires that you pay for the treatment at the time of service.  We accept cash, checks, and credit cards.  If you'd like to request reimbursement from your health insurance carrier, we will be happy to furnish you with a superbill for you to submit to your insurance carrier.  As we do not handle any insurance matters, if you have any questions regarding your coverage or reimbursement, please contact your health insurance company directly.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.