A 23 year old dancer came to our clinic with chronic right ankle pain and swelling. She had twisted her ankle six months prior, and it was just not healing. This ankle pain case study reviews our treatment and how it helped her fully recover and return to dancing.
Ankle Pain Case Study
Our patient had danced through her college years and was still active in regional dance performance. Yet, this injury had all but stopped her dancing and it was driving her to distraction. The pain and swelling were most severe on the lateral side of her ankle (outside).
She had worn a boot for months, with no relief. She did not like taking pain medications, but needed them by the end of the day. Her orthopedic doctor was recommending surgery, which she really did not want to do. She came to acupuncture as a last resort, hoping for a miracle.
Chronic Ankle Pain Treatment
We see this type of injury all the time in our practice. Most times a twisted ankle will recover quickly. But there are cases, like this one, where the injury lingers. Acupuncture is used to reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation and prompt the body to heal.
In this case we used a combination of the following acupuncture points on the right side of the body: GB40, GB41, GB39, GB34, BL60, ST41. In addition to these local points, we used the following acupuncture points to increase Qi and Blood circulation and reduce swelling and inflammation: LV3, Li4, Li11, SP10, GB31.
Results
Our patient started seeing improvement following the second treatment. By the 4th treatment her pain was reduced to 50%. After 7 treatments she was 75% better. Finally, after 10 treatments she was pain free. She was able to dance again, without pain or swelling.
Conclusions
This ankle pain case study is typical for the kinds of response we see to acupuncture. The treatments increase qi and blood circulation to the ankle, allowing the body to heal itself.
Next Steps
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What our Clients are Saying
I’m a runner and had been dealing with Achilles tendinitis for over a year. The doctor said I would have to have surgery eventually so I was just dealing with the pain and biding my time. Then a friend suggested acupuncture and recommended Raleigh Acupuncture as specializing in Achilles issues. I made and appointment and was impressed from the very beginning. Their evaluation was very thorough and they explained everything that acupuncture could do.
The treatments were comfortable, and more importantly, they eased my pain significantly. After six treatments I was running without any Achilles pain! I’ve totally put the idea of surgery out of my mind since I’m running without pain again. Anyone who has Achilles issues should speak with Raleigh Acupuncture. They can definitely help you.
I sprained my ankle playing basketball and was in terrible pain. I’ve had a history of ankle sprains and knew I was a slow healer. So I tried something different and went to acupuncture. The results were better than I could have ever hoped. Not only did I heal twice as fast, but the swelling went down within two days. I was back playing ball in no time. The staff at Raleigh Acupuncture were very professional and friendly. They got me better fast. I highly recommend them.
I was referred to Raleigh Acupuncture a few months ago because I was having a problem with a bone spur affecting my Achilles. The bone spur caused tremendous pain in my ankle and heel. Physical therapy ordered by a doctor really did not help. My doctor said that if the physical therapy did not help he could do surgery, but it would be very painful and would have an 8-9 month recovery period. Raleigh Acupuncture was my last hope. After a few treatments it was less painful when I walked. As I continued the treatments the pain totally went away. Now surgery is not even necessary. They have also helped me with my migraine headaches and restless leg issues. Acupuncture has made a huge difference in the quality of my life.
