Stephen S. Rodrigues, M.D.
5445 La Sierra Drive, Suite 102
Dallas, TX 75231
214-572-0333
http://www.drstephenrodrigues.com/biography/
Transcript: Why pain might increase after an acupuncture treatment
Once I get a patient in the office who has gotten up enough nerve to get acupuncture, I try to warn them that they might get a little worse before they actually get better. I try to explain that the body has figured out a way to balance themselves off-balance and once you rebalance a person with acupuncture, they’re going into a true balance and their whole system is unfamiliar. So, they may feel uncomfortable. They may feel awkward. Their pain level may increase.
Also, when you insert the needle into the perfect muscle, the muscle that’s causing all of the problem, that muscle could retaliate. It could go into a spasm. And that spasm tightens and puts more stress on the blood vessel or nerve and can make it worse. When that happens, I have people come back in the next day and there’s a couple of tricks I use. I flood the area with Lidocaine and that helps soothe the area, soothe the muscle and give immediate relief but that doesn’t happen often. Usually it doesn’t go past the level; it doesn’t get any worse than it ever has.