Acupuncture for Pain Management
Types of Pain we Treat
Arthritis pain
Fibromyalgia pain
Headaches and Migraines
Labor pain
Low back pain
Menstrual Pains
Muscle pain and cramping
Neck pain
Nerve pain (e.g., shingles)
Postoperative pain
Sciatica
Shoulder pain
The Benefits of Acupuncture for Pain Management
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including pain conditions. Our treatments can provide effective relief from common pain issues while enhancing overall well-being by targeting specific acupuncture points. Acupuncture offers the following benefits for pain management:
Increases Blood Flow to Promote Healing and Reduce Pain
Acupuncture enhances blood flow by stimulating specific points that dilate blood vessels and improve circulation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to affected areas while flushing out toxins and reducing swelling. This increased perfusion accelerates tissue repair and diminishes pain signals, making it particularly effective for conditions like musculoskeletal injuries or chronic inflammation. Studies have shown that acupuncture can boost local blood flow by up to 20-30%, leading to faster recovery times and sustained pain relief, often outperforming conventional therapies in promoting natural healing processes.
Improves Sleep Quality, Which Supports Pain Management
Acupuncture improves sleep quality by regulating the sleep-wake cycle and reducing hyperarousal in the nervous system, allowing for deeper, more restorative rest that indirectly alleviates pain exacerbated by fatigue. Poor sleep often amplifies pain sensitivity, so better slumber helps break this cycle, enhancing pain thresholds and recovery. Clinical trials indicate that regular treatments can extend sleep duration and efficiency by 20-40%, benefiting those with pain-related insomnia and leading to overall improved daily function and reduced reliance on sleep aids.
Enhances Production of Endogenous Opiates Like Endorphins
By activating the body's natural painkillers, acupuncture enhances the production of endogenous opiates such as endorphins, which bind to opioid receptors in the brain to block pain perception and elevate mood. This mechanism provides a drug-free way to manage acute and chronic pain, mimicking the effects of analgesics without addiction risks. Research demonstrates that acupuncture sessions can increase endorphin levels significantly within minutes, offering immediate and cumulative relief for issues like arthritis or postoperative discomfort, while also supporting emotional well-being.
Minimal Risk of Side Effects and Proven Safety Record
One of acupuncture's key advantages is its minimal risk of side effects, as it uses fine needles in a non-invasive manner without introducing chemicals or drugs into the body, avoiding common issues like gastrointestinal upset or dependency seen in medications. Side effects, if any, are typically mild, such as slight bruising or temporary soreness at insertion sites, resolving quickly. Evidence from extensive reviews confirms its safety profile, with adverse events occurring in less than 0.1% of sessions, making it a reliable option for long-term pain management across diverse populations.
How We Achieve Our Results
Personalized Care
At The Subtle Point, we recognize that everyone's experience with pain is deeply personal and unique. That's why we tailor our acupuncture treatments to align perfectly with your individual needs and goals. By addressing both the physical and emotional sides of your challenges, we offer lasting relief and a revitalized sense of well-being that truly empowers your everyday life.
Patient Support
A strong support system is vital to your journey in managing pain effectively. At our clinic, we're always here to guide you, answer your questions, and ease any concerns every step of the way during your acupuncture treatments. We foster a nurturing and compassionate environment that empowers you to attain lasting relief, enhanced well-being, and a renewed sense of confidence and clarity.
Dietary Advice
We provide tailored wellness guidance to help you achieve lasting relief from pain. This includes creating a sustainable plan that supports overall balance and trigger management through smart choices like incorporating anti-inflammatory foods, encouraging proper hydration, identifying potential food sensitivities, and recommending beneficial supplements.
Lifestyle Modifications
We understand that daily habits significantly influence pain management. We can help you identify and refine lifestyle factors triggering or worsening symptoms. Small adjustments often yield remarkable results, such as practicing mindfulness to ease stress and tension, using deep breathing for quick relaxation and pain relief, incorporating more self-care beyond treatments, adding moderate exercise to improve circulation and endorphins, ensuring good sleep for tissue repair, maintaining proper posture to reduce strain, and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet to curb discomfort.
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What to Expect During your First Acupuncture treatment for Pain Management
Health Assessment
During your initial visit at The Subtle Point, we will go over your areas of concern, medical history, lifestyle routines, and your health goals. Next, they'll conduct an examination of the areas of pain along with targeted questions to uncover any subtle imbalances in your body. Drawing from all this insight, they'll deliver a precise diagnosis and craft a personalized treatment plan designed just for you.
Acupuncture
During your acupuncture session, you'll get comfortable on a treatment table. The practitioner will gently insert thin, sterile needles into specific points on your body to help ease your pain. You might feel a quick pinch when the needles go in, but it's usually painless and even relaxing. Then, just lie back for 20 to 30 minutes while the treatment does its thing. Almost all patients will leave the clinic feeling very relaxed.
Aftercare and Follow-ups
After your acupuncture session for pain management, your practitioner will provide personalized aftercare advice, including suggestions for lifestyle adjustments, dietary tweaks, and easy at-home practices to help maintain and enhance the benefits. We will discuss a recommended follow-up schedule tailored to your specific needs and condition, typically suggesting an average of around 5-10 treatments. Subsequent visits will be adjusted based on your treatment goals, how well you're responding, and your overall progress toward relief.
Over 450 5 Star Online Reviews
87 Five Star Reviews
Mike at subtle point is a pro! He has helped me numerous times deal with musculoskeletal pain in my back, legs, shoulder, neck and hands! He’s great at what he does and is very personable so I gladly give him five stars!
—Moe El Ali
247 Five Star Reviews
Michael was PERFECT! He asked a lot of questions about my pain and went to work on relieving it. The pain in my side that would wake me up every night for years has been gone for 4 days now thanks to the acupuncture. I also received such an amazing neck and head rub it made my toes tingle! I also noticed that I can go much deeper in my yoga poses after one treatment. Michael knows his work!
—Becky
121 Five Star Reviews
“Mike is so thorough and knowledgeable. Best acupuncture experience I have ever had. I will definitely be going back!”
“The owner Michael was super nice and very knowledgeable! I had a great experience!”
“This is the first time I’ve ever had acupuncture and cupping, and it was great. Definitely recommend.”
Our Prices
Initial Treatment
$100
Your first visit combines assessment and treatment in a comprehensive 60-minute session.
Basic Follow-up Treatment
$60
A basic follow-up treatment is 30 minutes long and the treatment will only address your headaches & migraines
Advanced Follow-Up Treatments
$95 - $130
Advanced follow-up treatments are 60 or 90 minutes long. During these treatments a patient can opt to work on multiple issues, have extra needle time, incorporate tuina massage or cupping, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Acupuncture employs needles that are substantially smaller than those used by doctors for injections. The sensation has been compared to an insect bite or a pinch, however most people do not experience anything at all. Certain points can be painful to needle, and we aim to avoid them unless they are absolutely essential. If they are, we usually use thinner needles for those points. If you are sensitive to needles, we will modify your therapy so that you can reach your health goals while remaining comfortable.
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The number of acupuncture treatments required to effectively address pain conditions can vary widely depending on factors such as the specific condition (e.g., back pain, migraines, or arthritis), its severity, duration, and your individual response to therapy. Based on clinical guidelines and research, a typical course often involves an average of around 5-10 regular sessions, usually scheduled 1-2 times per week, to achieve noticeable improvements in symptoms like pain intensity and mobility. In more chronic cases, this may extend to 15-20 treatments for substantial, lasting relief, with maintenance sessions potentially recommended thereafter every few weeks or months. It's important to note that deep relaxation and pain relief can be felt during and after most acupuncture sessions, as the therapy promotes a calming effect on the nervous system, enhancing overall physical comfort and well-being.
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At The Subtle Point, we provide a range of services that can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. Initial appointments, on the other hand, last 60 to 90 minutes. Usually acupuncture treatments for pain management are 60 minute sessions.
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It depends on the area of pain, however if undressing is not an option then we can tailor your treatments accordingly and use distal points in the hands, feet, arms, legs, ears to treat pains in the areas you may want to keep covered.
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We accept cash, check, and credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover).
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At this time we are not accepting insurance, but we can give you an invoice/superbill to give to your insurance company for reimbursement.