Pain Management

Step 1 – Safety‑First Assessment

Your first visit is focused on understanding two things:

• “Is it safe to treat this here?”
  • We ask about:
    • Onset and cause of pain (injury, surgery, gradual onset)
    • Location, radiation, and character (sharp, dull, burning, throbbing)
    • Night pain, morning stiffness, flare patterns
    • Red‑flag signs: recent trauma, cancer history, infection risk, neurological changes, bladder/bowel issues, chest pain, fever, weight loss
  • When needed, we check vital signs and perform a basic neurological screen (strength, sensation, reflexes, gait).
• “What is this pain likely to be?”
  • We review any imaging or diagnoses you already have
  • We note all medications (including opioids, anti‑inflammatories, blood thinners, biologics) and all other therapies you’re using

If anything suggests a fracture, infection, serious nerve compression, cancer, or organ emergency, we do not treat and instead help you access appropriate medical care.

Step 2 – Pain & Function Mapping

To make your progress visible, we use simple tools:

• Pain scale 0–10
  • At rest and with key movements
• Function / disability scales
  • e.g. lower‑back, neck, or knee function questionnaires
• Lotus Pain Impact Mapping
  • A TCM‑based “meridian map” showing where pain travels, how it affects movement, and how intense it is

From this, we classify your pain as approximately:

• Mild, moderate, or severe
• Acute (<6 weeks), subacute (6–12 weeks), or chronic (>3 months)

This helps set realistic goals and choose the right level of intensity for your program.

Step 3 – Integrated Explanation: TCM + Modern Pain Science

You’ll receive an explanation that makes sense in both languages:

• Western perspective (for communication with your doctor and rehab team):
  • Example: “Non‑specific mechanical low back pain without red flags”
  • “Knee pain consistent with osteoarthritis”
  • “Tension‑type headaches related to neck and shoulder tension”
• TCM perspective (for treatment strategy):
  • Qi and blood stagnation – recent strain, sharp or fixed pain
  • Wind‑cold‑damp Bi – heavy, stiff joints; worse in cold/damp weather
  • Damp‑heat Bi – red, hot, swollen joints
  • Blood stasis – old injury, stabbing pain, poor mobility
  • Qi / blood deficiency – dull aching pain, worse with fatigue
  • Liver–Kidney deficiency – chronic spine or knee pain, weakness, degeneration

You leave knowing what we think is going on and why we are choosing certain points and methods for you.

Step 4 – Targeted Acupuncture‑Centred Treatment

Your treatment plan may include:

• Acupuncture & Electroacupuncture
  • Fine, sterile single‑use needles placed at
    • Local points around the painful area
    • Segmental points along the spine
    • Distal points on hands/feet that influence pain pathways
  • In some chronic conditions (e.g. low back pain, knee osteoarthritis), we may add gentle electrical stimulation between needles to enhance pain relief.
• Moxibustion, Cupping & Gua Sha (When Appropriate)
  • Moxibustion (heat therapy) for cold‑type, stiff, or chronic pain
  • Cupping or Gua Sha for muscular tension, myofascial pain, and Qi/blood stagnation patterns
• Chinese Herbal Support (Optional)
  • Gentle formulas to:
    • Move Qi and blood
    • Reduce “damp” and heaviness
    • Support recovery after injury or surgery
  • Herbs are always chosen with your medications and medical history in mind, and we encourage ongoing communication with your physician.
• Frequency & Duration
  
  • Acute / subacute pain:
    • 1–2 treatments per week for 2–3 weeks
  • Early chronic pain:
    • 1–2 treatments per week for 4–6 weeks
  • Long‑standing or severe chronic pain:
    • 1–3 treatments per week at first, then gradually reduced as your condition stabilizes

At each review point, we look for:

• Pain reduction (often ≥2 points on a 0–10 scale)
• Improved range of motion and activity
• Better sleep and confidence moving

If progress is insufficient, we re‑evaluate and adjust, and where needed, strengthen collaboration with your doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or pain specialist.

Step 5 – Home‑Care & Self‑Management (Your Daily Advantage)

Lasting change requires what you do between sessions. We will teach you:

• Pain‑smart movement strategies
  • Gentle range‑of‑motion and strengthening exercises adapted to your pain level
  • How to tell the difference between “safe” discomfort and warning pain
• Heat & cold use
  • When to use cold packs (fresh injury, swelling, hot inflammation)
  • When to use heat (chronic stiffness, cold‑type pain, muscle tension)
• Posture & ergonomics
  • Simple adjustments for desk work, lifting, standing, and sleep positions
• Safe self‑acupressure
  • We may show you a few key points to press at home for pain flare‑ups, with clear instructions and safety limits
• Stress, sleep & mood strategies
  • Brief breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, pacing principles
  • Because chronic pain and stress amplify each other, calming your nervous system is part of pain management—not an “extra”.