Something I have observed over the years as a practitioner of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a phenomenon I first learned when I was a student from my teacher:
Sometimes where the pain is felt is not the problem area.
To give an example, patients may often come to the clinic with pain or a diagnosis relating to their elbow or wrist. I always palpate the local area, feeling for knots, tissue changes and ahshi “ow that spot hurts” points. Then I palpate above the affected area (towards the neck and shoulders- proximal) and below (towards the hands and fingers- distal), looking for changes.
When treating the issue with acupuncture I usually start above the area. In my experience, the place where pain is felt is not always where the tension begins, so I check the neck and shoulders as well as the elbow or wrist itself.
The idea is that tension can travel along a chain of muscles. A tight neck can place extra load on the trapezius, then the deltoid, the biceps, the elbow, the forearm and eventually the wrist. This is a way of thinking about the body rather than a rule, and not every wrist or elbow problem works this way.
So when someone tells me their wrist hurts, I look at the whole chain from the neck down, and if there is tension along it, I may include those areas in treatment. How people respond varies, and if something needs medical assessment, such as imaging or a specialist opinion, I will suggest you see your GP.
The challenge and reason why I believe this approach has not been the typical one- is that we are used to looking at problem areas in their isolation. A podiatrist looks at the foot, an orthopaedic surgeon will usually focus on a particular joint, and as acupuncturists we are taught to treat the local points in the local area.
But if we zoom out and look at the bigger picture, considering how one area connects to another is a practical part of a thorough assessment.
Any questions or to book in, feel free to contact Ahil at the Alexandria clinic on (02) 9341 5775 or by email at ahilnaturopath@gmail.com.
Ahil Naturopath/Acupuncture is a clinic located near Redfern, Alexandria and Waterloo. We also service areas across Sydney including Botany, Camperdown, Darlinghurst, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Mascot, Newtown, Rosebery, Surry Hills and Zetland.
We offer Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Cupping, Gua Sha (Scraping) and Moxibustion services in South-East, Eastern and Inner City of Sydney.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual advice from a qualified health practitioner. If you have a health concern, please see your GP or book a consultation.