How does acupuncture work?
There are several mechanisms of action of acupuncture. Three basic concepts are commonly used today to explain acupuncture's benefits:

What are the possible side effects or complications of acupuncture?
Acupuncture can activate chemical, hormonal, and other changes, with change in emotions, sleep patterns, appetite, bowel, or urinary habits. Occasionally there may be transient worsening of symptoms. If this occurs it is early in the course of treatment and is followed by significant improvement. These changes are normal and indicate that your body is responding to treatment.
People often feel deep relaxation following treatments, especially after the first one or two. This passes within a short time.

People occasionally feel faint during acupuncture, especially at the start of the first treatment. We suggest that to help avoid faintness, you arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time in order to relax before treatment, and that you not be hungry at the time of treatment.
Any time a needle is placed in the body; there is a risk of bleeding or infection. Usually you cannot see a mark where the needle was placed but occasionally, a small vessel under the skin may be pricked, resulting in a black and blue mark.

At Vitality Chiropractic, LLC, we use pre-sterile, single use needles to prevent any risk of infection.  In addition, the skin surface is sterilized with alcohol before insertion.  Rare but serious complications that could occur involve puncture of the chest or abdominal organs.
Alert your practitioner if you have a bleeding tendency, pacemaker, metal sensitivity, or are pregnant. Special considerations may need to be discussed if you have abnormal heart valves, seizure disorder, or are taking narcotics or steroids.

Does acupuncture hurt?
People experience acupuncture differently. Most feel only minimal pain as needles are placed, others feel no pain. Once the needles are in position, they should not be painful. If a needle is causing pain, ask that the needle be checked for repositioning.
After needles are placed you may feel tingling, warmth, dull ache, numbness, or heaviness, either locally or in a part of the body distant from the needle. Some people notice a generalized feeling of relaxation or well being, and find themselves either sleeping, smiling, or both.

What are the chances that acupuncture can help me? How can I expect to feel?
Acupuncture has helped many people who have not responded to conventional medical or surgical management, but there is a tremendous difference in the response to acupuncture from patient to patient.

Some patients notice an immediate improvement; some notice a change a day or two after treatment. Other patients are not helped at all. There are also those who initially think they had no response, notice a delayed improvement several weeks after treatment.
Occasionally, pain is temporarily worse following a treatment. This is not cause for alarm or discouragement. Worsening of pain may be followed by significant improvement. Increased pain after treatment also shows that acupuncture can affect your pain and that further treatment has a good chance of decreasing pain.

Everyone needs to be considered on an individual basis and sometimes patience is required as different acupuncture approaches are tried and the body takes it's time to respond. Through use of nutritional guidance, proper exercise, and stress reduction, we aim to put your body into the best possible state to respond to acupuncture.

Does health insurance cover acupuncture?
Policies differ among insurance companies. Check with your insurance company for specifics regarding your coverage.  If you have other questions concerning acupuncture, please do not hesitate to ask. We will do our best to answer them.

Are there any special instructions I should follow on the day of treatment?
Following the suggestions below will enhance the effects of treatment: