Acute and Chronic Pain

Discover Natural Pain Relief

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Discover how holistic pain relief for both acute and chronic conditions can transform your life.

A Better Way To Treat Your Pain

Pain is a natural part of life and even helps us realize when something is wrong. Our nerves send pain signals from the injured area to your brain to let you know you’re hurt. And while it is natural, that does not mean we should have to live in pain when there are peaceful ways to find relief. We’ll work with you to not only treat the source of your pain, but bring relief to any part of the body experiencing stress as a reaction to the pain.

Our Holistic Approach to Pain Management
Acute and Chronic Pain We Treat
How We Can Help You Find Natural Pain Relief
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect

Our Holistic Approach to Pain Management

You are the expert when it comes to your body. You know what’s normal and you also know when something is off. We take the time to really listen when you share your experience and take every bit of information into consideration when creating your specific health plan. This holistic pain management approach will address both the source of pain and any other part of the body that has been affected, including any muscle stiffness, joint pain, and even any negative mental health side effects that have resulted from chronic pain.

To treat those experiencing acute or chronic pain issues we’ll recommend using one type of treatment or a combination of several including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping, nutrition, vitamins, and supplements.

Acupuncture

Herbal Medicine

Cupping Therapy

Acute and Chronic Pain We Treat

Holistic pain relief is for addressing both acute and chronic pain, as a result from a specific injury or even if the cause is unknown. We also treat any physical conditions that have been brought on by the stress of being in constant pain.

We treat a wide range of symptoms related to acute and chronic pain, including:

Low back pain
Sciatic pain
Upper and mid back pain
Neck pain
Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain
Hip, knee, and ankle pain
Joint pain
Plantar fasciitis and feet pain
Headaches or migraines
Sports or other types of injuries
Golfers and tennis elbow
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ)
Sinus or other facial pain

How We Can Help You Find Natural Pain Relief

Acute pain is a result of a specific underlying cause and can go away after it has been treated. Chronic pain, even if it is also a result of a specific cause, continues after treatment. Rebalancing your entire system through natural chronic pain relief will have a positive ripple effect that will be felt throughout your whole body.

Acupuncture for Pain

The cause of pain is a result of qi, blood, or fluids not properly flowing through the body. Through treatments, the flow is restored and promotes healing by drawing blood and fluids to the areas in pain. Pain is also reduced by an increase in endorphins.

During treatment, patients can expect to have acupuncture needles placed anywhere on the body. However, needles do not need to be placed at the site of pain for acupuncture to work, in fact most treatments for pain do not include needles at the site of pain.

Treatment plans are based on a number of factors, including type of pain (acute or chronic), severity, and an individual’s response to acupuncture. While the number of treatments vary, patients report great results and see a reduction in the frequency and severity of their pain.

Acupuncture for Acute Pain

Acute pain is a sudden pain caused by an injury or illness. This type of pain resolves over time and with the treatment of the underlying cause. While the exact number of acupuncture sessions recommended will vary from patient to patient, most treatment plans are twice per week lasting anywhere from two to eight weeks, with a reassessment every two weeks. Most patients begin to experience results quickly and many conditions can be resolved between six to twelve weeks. Some conditions can be resolved completely, and most patients are able to return to 80-100% of their activities prior to the injury or acute pain condition which is why it is important to seek assistance at the onset of pain.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Pain is considered chronic when it has persisted for more than six weeks. This type of pain takes longer to treat than acute pain. Treatment plans vary based on severity and the individual’s response to acupuncture, but generally fall into two categories: 1) Twice per week for two to four weeks, then once per week for three or more months or 2) Once per week for three to six months. A patient’s treatment plan is reassessed at various intervals and adjusted as needed.

Herbal Medicine for Pain

Herbal pain relief has been practiced for over 2,000 years and is still an effective, natural way to treat pain today. In conjunction with acupuncture, Chinese herbs work to bring balance back to your entire system. The formulas might work to reduce swelling, break up stagnation of qi and blood, or help your body rest/sleep so you have more resources when pain starts up. Each formula, just like each person’s body and experience, is unique and made to address pain in different ways. We will take a detailed history so we can fully understand how best to approach your pain condition.

Patients can begin seeing results anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Some patients have also been able to reduce or eliminate their reliance on pain medication with the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. However, decisions about reducing or stopping pain medications should only be made after consulting with your primary care physician.

Cupping for Pain

Cupping breaks up muscle tightness and improves circulation, making it a great treatment for natural pain relief if you suffer from bothersome tightness, tension, or other kinds of stagnation. For this reason, those who do repetitive actions or sit for long periods of time for work find cupping to be a terrific way to counteract the negative effects of those actions.

Cups are placed along the area that is experiencing pain or tension, including along the back, neck, shoulders, arms, or legs for anywhere from 10-20 minutes. A practitioner may come in and move the cups to other areas at various time intervals.

The number of sessions recommended varies from patient to patient and depends on the focus of treatment, but we recommend the sessions continue until pain is gone or greatly reduced.

Cupping Therapy Is Not for Everyone

While cupping can be a very beneficial practice, it is not appropriate for every patient or for the treatment of certain conditions. Your practitioner will discuss your medical history with you to determine if cupping is right for you. We also do not practice wet cupping and avoid cupping on certain parts of the body.

Helping You Find Relief From Pain

J.A.

...Transformational Acupuncture has definitely lived up to its name...

After several years of trying to treat nerve damage in my lower extremities—as well as the extremely distressing and embarrassing but nevertheless prevalent problem of erectile dysfunction—I decided to try acupuncture since all else (laser treatment, physical therapy, etc.) had failed to achieve the desired result.

My nerve damage problems emanate from the fact that I have a desk job and diabetes—sitting and diabetes don't really go hand in hand. I Googled "acupuncture in D.C." and that's how I discovered Transformational Acupuncture. I decided to try Transformational Acupuncture because

It was conveniently located in a nice part of town where I already hang out;
The website was welcoming and easy to use in terms of setting up an appointment and
They got back in touch with me within a reasonable amount of time.

It also helped tremendously that their service was covered by my health insurance, which I took as a positive sign that their service is legit. To get right to the point, let me say that Transformational Acupuncture has definitely lived up to its name and has truly transformed my condition for the better. Is all of my nerve damage gone? No. But it has radically improved. Am I back in the sack having sex like I was 18 years old again? No. But I can tell you that acupuncture has reversed the loss of sensation that I felt in the private area before I began acupuncture and has enabled me to, well, "stand at attention" in ways that I could not previously.

My feet and legs feel much better. Not perfect or 100% healed, but definitely better. I still have a ways to go but I'm feeling optimistic thanks to the early progress. If it didn't work, I would be the first to tell you because I tried a shock treatment once that did not work and I did not hesitate to file a complaint with the BBB on the shock treatment company. If Transformational failed to deliver, I would have filed a complaint against them as well. But Transformational has delivered. I recommend this place without hesitation.

The staff explained to me that the process could be slow and gradual but it ended up producing results more quickly than expected. Was it overnight? No. But if you're patient and keep up your appointments, I think you will get satisfying or at least encouraging results. The staff are very courteous and attentive. They listen to your problems and develop solutions. One of my doctors is a little bit skeptical about my claims. He thinks my progress has more to do with the relaxing environment and the benefits that has on the body. Even if that's the case, Transformational still gets the credit because the environment is quite relaxing.

The other clients are generally quiet and respectful, and the ambiance is quite pleasant. I did some intense treatments with Transformational for about three-and-a-half months in the summer of 2021 and, even though my progress has kind of plateaued, I plan to continue treatment in the future to see if maybe we can improve or at least maintain the progress we have made thus far.

I am a journalist by trade and I can guarantee you if I had a problem with this place, I'd be the first to tell you. Actually, I did have one small complaint. My insurance only covered 20 treatments, and I wasn't told this until the 20th treatment. I wish I had known earlier. I might have spaced my treatments out more. In any event, aside from that one complaint, I don't have any problems with Transformational, and the progress I've made at this place far outweighs the one minor criticism that I have. I hope this has given you a fair, accurate, and balanced view of what to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Natural Pain Reliever?

A natural pain reliever is used in place of taking pharmaceutical drugs to manage pain. Natural pain relievers could be certain foods, herbs, or physical activities such as yoga. Individuals may choose natural pain management to avoid the negative side effects of prescription drugs, including addiction.

What is Acute Pain?

Acute pain is pain experienced as a result of an injury or illness. This type of pain lasts less than six months and goes away with treatment of the underlying cause.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than six months. Chronic pain continues after the treatment of the initial injury or illness and can last for weeks, months, or years. This type of pain may also have no known cause.

What’s the Difference Between Chronic Pain and Acute Pain?

Both acute and chronic pain can be caused by a specific injury or illness, but acute pain resolves with the treatment of the underlying cause. Chronic pain lasts longer than six months and persists even when the specific cause has been addressed.

Can Acupuncture Relieve Pain?

Yes, acupuncture can naturally relieve pain. Acupuncture treatments improve the flow of qi and blood throughout the body. Physiologically one can observe these changes as reduced swelling and muscle tension in the affected area. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of endorphins which helps to reduce the perception of pain.

Can Acupuncture Help With Chronic Pain?

Yes, acupuncture can be an effective way to help relieve chronic pain. Whether the cause of the pain is known or not, acupuncture treatments can help restore qi and fluid flow to the entire body. Patients will also feel relief from the increased amount of endorphins produced by treatment.

Can Acupuncture Cure Chronic Pain Issues?

Continued acupuncture treatments can lower pain levels and may even have the benefit of providing total pain relief. While people do benefit from acupuncture treatment for pain relief, it does not actually cure a chronic condition. However, it can prolong the onset of the condition becoming worse.

How Does Acupuncture Work To Relieve Pain?

The placement of acupuncture needles works to correct the flow of qi and blood. Acupuncture treatments help draw blood to the sight of injury which helps reduce pain. Patients will also feel relief from the increased amount of endorphins produced by treatment.

How Many Acupuncture Treatments Will I Need?

The number of acupuncture treatments needed will be based on how long you’ve had the pain, the level of pain, and your response to acupuncture. While the number of treatments to achieve your desired result will vary, patients report great results and see a reduction in their pain level and frequency.

Does Cupping Help With Pain?

Yes, cupping can help reduce tension, tightness, and other kinds of stagnation. This natural pain treatment breaks up muscle tightness and improves circulation. Cupping can be very beneficial for those with pain resulting from long periods of sitting and/or repetitive actions.

Is Cupping Painful?

Cupping is a technique using suction on the skin, fascia, and muscles. For some people, certain cupping techniques or cupping on certain body parts may be painful. We listen to our patient’s needs and adjust the suction of cups for maximum relief with minimal pain. Some people may experience discomfort after cupping due to bruising or blistering. We always recommend wearing light breathable clothing and avoiding the use of topical ointments or creams until the cupping marks have disappeared.

How Does Cupping Help Pain?

Cupping helps relieve pain by breaking up muscle tightness and improving circulation in the areas holding tension or tightness.

How Often Should You Cup for Pain?

The number of cupping sessions recommended varies from patient to patient and depends on the focus of treatment, but we recommend the sessions continue until the pain is gone or greatly reduced.

Are There Contraindications for Cupping for Pain?

While cupping is a great practice for relieving pain and tension, it is not appropriate for certain patients. Your practitioner will discuss your medical history with you to determine if cupping is right for you. We also do not practice wet cupping and avoid cupping on certain parts of the body. To learn more about cupping visit our Cupping Therapy page.

What To Expect

You can expect to find a partner in your health journey.

At Transformational Acupuncture, we strive to provide a welcoming environment to each and every patient. We understand traditional healthcare can make some wary of seeking help, even if it’s for the betterment of their health. That’s why we take a holistic approach when treating each person. You will be listened to, treated with respect, and be seen as a true partner in your own health journey.

At the beginning of your treatment you’ll be asked some basic questions so we can establish a good baseline. From there we’ll discuss your specific needs and issues. After hearing from you, we’ll create a holistic plan that is designed to help you live the balanced, healthy life you deserve.

Your Patient Journey

At the beginning of your treatment, you’ll be asked some basic questions so we can establish a good baseline. From there we will discuss your specific needs and issues. After hearing from you, we will create a holistic plan that is designed to help you live the balanced, healthy life you deserve.

Learn more about your complete patient journey.

Get Started Today

Begin your holistic health journey by scheduling an appointment today. Schedule online or give us a call at (202) 297-7404.

To learn if your insurance covers acupuncture and other treatments, please fill out our short form to verify your benefits with us.

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