Arthritis treated with acupuncture can be helped. In fact, we have successfully treated both Osteo and Rheumatoid arthritis with acupuncture at our Guildford clinic.
The 2 types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is wear and tear of the bones, joints and cartilage. Pretty much all of us have it showing on x-rays as we get older, but interestingly not all of us get pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is where our own immune system attacks us. It can start as early as in our 20’s. It can get progressively worse as we get older, with deformed joints. It can be very distressing. It often comes and goes, and can ‘burn itself out’ (stop doing damage permanently) after a few or many years.
Treating Osteoarthritis
Strangely, you can have severe osteoarthritis showing on x-rays, and be pain-free and active. Also you can be in a lot of pain with healthy x-rays. No-one knows why this happens. So whatever pain you are in, and whatever the x-rays show, there is hope.
We have found acupuncture helps a lot of the time. Again, no-one quite knows why. In China Doctors say there are energy pathways (meridians) in the body, which if blocked causes pain. They use acupuncture needles in special points on the body to unblock the pathways, which cures the pain.
I have many clients with painful osteoarthritis in the back, hip, or knees, that have walked out of our clinic pain-free after just 1 short course of treatment.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is more difficult to help. We find regular treatments can often make the pain less, and help the hands & feet to move better. Interestingly we have had clients whose arthritis has burned itself out at the time when they see us for acupuncture.
Client History – Osteoarthritis of Knee
A 40 year old man came to see me some years ago, diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in his knees. The doctors had him on pain killers that were not helping. I treated him 6 times and his pain disappeared. He returned a few time over the next 10 years for other issues, and the pain never returned during this time.
Client History – Osteoarthritis of Hip
This can be helped. If severe and getting worse, it usually this requires a hip replacement. But doctors want to delay as long as possible, as the replacements only last 10-15 years. Interestingly, a lady of 65 came to see me with severe pain in her hip. She had been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis, and was scared of surgery. I gave her a course of treatment, & amazingly her pain disappeared totally! She also regained mobility in the hip. I last saw her 2 years later, when she was still pain free & happily mobile!
Client History – Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Many years ago I saw a lovely lady aged 65. She was an ex nursing sister and a magistrate. She had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, since her 30’s. When I met her she was wheel-chair bound. Her hands and feet were twisted and damaged, as was her neck and spine. Her upper back was severely hunched. She was also suffering with Ankylosing spondylitis, which caused deterioration and pain in her spine. She also suffered with severe indigestion & reflux.
I treated her for a number of years. Me seeing her coincided with her arthritis stopping getting worse. I treated her systemically, her hands and her feet, and her reflux. She found acupuncture once a fortnight really helped the arthritis to not get worse. It also gave her better mobility in her hands and feet. Her reflux was also greatly helped, as was her general mood. She felt happier, and less anxious. She lived many years longer than the doctors expected her to. I got to know her very well & always looked forward to seeing her. Her mind remained very sharp, and our conversations about medicine, Law & life were both entertaining & educational.
Our Clinic
Both Vahida and myself have over 25 years’ experience. So you will be in safe hands! At our clinic in Guildford in Surrey we have £25 treatment days & on-site parking. So it easy and affordable to come & see for yourself if acupuncture can help you.
David Gilbert