A 67 year old man came to our clinic complaining of knee pain. He was an avid pickleball player and the knee pain had sidelined him. He was desperate for a cure so he could get back to playing. This knee pain acupuncture case study describes how acupuncture resolved his knee pain in seven treatments, allowing him to return to the pickleball court.
Knee Pain Epidemic
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that over 15 million Americans suffer from knee pain. It can arise from sports injuries, osteoarthritis, infection and overuse. Current Western medical treatments include pain medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections and knee replacement. Acupuncture offers another option. It resolves knee pain naturally, with no side effects.
The Pickleball Phenomenon
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. There are over 3 million active players, and that number is growing by ten percent each year. Seniors are particularly enamored with the sport. Pickleball is a cross between tennis and racketball. It’s a highly social and interactive game, predominantly played at community centers. And it’s quite addictive!
Knee Pain Acupuncture Case Study
Our patient with knee pain was clearly addicted to pickleball. On his first visit he was distraught not only by his knee pain but also because he had not been able to play pickleball during the past four weeks. Every time he tried to play, his knees would swell up and trigger sharp, stabbing pain.
He had been diagnosed with mild osteoarthritis in both knees, but they had never caused him much trouble. His pain had begun after he fell during a game the previous month. He had fallen heavily on his knees when chasing a ball. At the time he had brushed off the incident as minor. He had played a few more hours at the community center before going home. That night his knees swelled and felt stiff. The next day pain set in. Now, a month later, his knees felt stiff and swollen all the time and if he attempted to run they would start throbbing with sharp pain. There was no way he could play pickleball with knees like this.
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
After evaluating his knees and taking his medical history, we diagnosed his condition as Bi Syndrome, otherwise known as Painful Obstruction in the Channels. There are 14 channels, or meridians, that traverse our bodies. Energy, called Qi, travels through these channels. When the Qi is blocked, there is pain.
Blockage occurs from trauma, injury, overuse, wear and tear, illness and disease. In this case, blockage was caused by a combination of wear and tear (arthritis) and trauma (falling during a game). The result was pain, stiffness and swelling in the knees.
Luckily for our patient, acupuncture had a good remedy for Bi Syndrome. Some of the points used in his treatments included Xiyan, ST 34 and 36, SP 9 and 10, Heding, LV 3 and Li 11. These points all act to heal the knees, open blocked channels, and restore the free flow of Qi.
Results
After four treatments (one treatment per week) our patient was feeling 60% better. There was significantly less swelling in the knees and they were less stiff. He was able to jog without pain, but pickleball was still off the table. Any attempt to play a game still promoted pain. However, after three additional treatments, there was no longer pain when playing ball. He had regained his mobility and his agility.
He agreed to start back playing pickleball slowly. The first time out he limited play to 1 hour. The next week he played 2 hours. After that he was back to normal. He wanted to continue coming for acupuncture and we agreed to treat him once a month for maintenance, as a preventative. That was 12 months ago. He has remained healthy, with no knee pain or swelling.
Next Steps
This knee pain acupuncture case study is typical for the good results we get. If you have knee pain, try acupuncture.
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Osteoarthritis & Sports Injury
Whether your knee pain comes from arthritis, injury or illness, acupuncture can make a difference. Come for a treatment and see for yourself.
What our Clients are Saying
My knees were so bad with arthritis that I couldn’t play golf. My wife did research on the internet and said acupuncture might help. I went in not expecting much. He told me it would take three to six treatments to see if it would work. My case was tougher because I’m overweight. Sure enough, after five treatments the pain started easing. I needed twelve treatments total, but my knees improved so much I’m playing golf again. I go in for what he calls tune-ups every month, but I don’t mind. The acupuncture keeps my knees not hurting. I’ve recommended it to my golf buddies and they’ve had success as well.
Raleigh Acupuncture was recommended by a friend after I mentioned my insomnia and dependency on a sleeping pill. My apprehension was short lived because of the results of my visits to Dr. Mark. With acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs I was able to begin sleeping well and continue to do so. Dr. Mark is a good listener and encourages his patients in all health issues as well as the original purpose for treatment. Consequently, my knees are stronger and I’m walking better and with more confidence. I haven’t had the need for a cortisone shot in a year and a half. Occasionally, I would use a cane and it’s now somewhere gathering dust. Also, I had a persistent headache that my primary physician had no solution for, and after two acupuncture treatments it’s a thing of the past. Hot flashes were another issue that was treated successfully. I am so grateful to have found a knowledgeable and caring person to treat my ailments, many of which I thought would only grow worse as I aged. Generally, I feel healthier.
I love to play golf, that’s my passion. But I’m overweight and my knees hurt so bad I couldn’t even walk the course. My wife told me to try acupuncture. These guys were straight with me, said to try six treatments to see if my knees would respond. I’ll tell you, nothing happened at first. But, by the sixth treatment my knees starting feeling better. I got six more treatments after that and now I’m playing golf again. They don’t hurt so much any more. From a 10 out of 10, now they’re at a 3. I can live with that.
My knees were so bad I couldn’t walk down the stairs without holding on to the railing for dear life. I’m also deathly afraid of needles. So they used extra tiny needles on my knees and in three treatments my knee pain was gone. Incredible! I highly recommend Raleigh Acupuncture for anyone with knee pain.
This was my first time trying out acupuncture. I had a great experience and was made to feel very comfortable with the whole process. The treatment I received on my knee definitely helped with my tendinitis. I would recommend Raleigh Acupuncture to anyone.
