Spinal Decompression

In every disease, whether you are dealing with arthritis or cancer, will result in inflammation.

The medical community uses anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and others to combat inflammation. The reason a patient has pain is due to the inflammation.

People can be walking around in an extreme inflammatory state and still function. The reason people can develop heart disease or cancer is that they become immune to the pain and they really forget what it was like before they even had it because it develops over years.

The inflammation I am talking about now is not the kind you get from a severely sprained knee or a rotator cuff injury. It is the kind that is dangerous. For instance, someone eats more inflammatory foods like animal products and dairy, along with sugar, all day everyday. This will result in an inflammatory state that drives cells not to function at 100%, resulting in a disease down the road. The common diseases in the United States are cancer and heart disease.

So there are two ways to control inflammation. Diet and supplementation. You must incorporate both ways to successfully control inflammation.

First we will discuss diet. Anti-inflammatory foods are generally foods in the vegetable category, greens, etc. Also omega fatty acids such as fish and nuts. The common Mediterranean diet is a great non-inflammatory diet. Flax seeds are great for colon health and a great way to fill up with healthy fats. There are 2 types of fats, good and bad to be general. The bad fats or inflammatory fats are the animal products and dairy products. Good fats are peanuts, avocados, flax seeds, salmon, trout, etc.

One reason the residents of Europe do not get nearly as much heart disease as the US is the type of foods they eat.

Second we will discuss supplements. Some great supplements to control inflammation are omega-3-fatty acids. Make sure to get your fish oil from a reputable source. Fish oil that is cheap will generally be lacking the proper capsule and preparation for consumption. The oil must also be filtered properly to make sure there are no toxins such as methy-mercury in the oil.

Tumeric is another great natural anti-inflammatory. It has been used very successfully to control pain and inflammation. Studies show that tumeric, along with fish oil, can decrease the risk of heart disease.

Lastly, superoxide dismutase combats the inflammatory free radicals in any disease state. Free radicals, or unpaired electrons, can damage tissue and are prevalent in any disease. Superoxide Dismutase or SOD, will halt free radical damage and thus stop the inflammation from these pathways.

Exercise is also another great way to stop inflammation. Too much exercise, though, can cause inflammation. I am strictly talking about light cardiovascular exercise. This will also cause a person to sweat, which is good to release toxins and other inflammatory substances.

So, by incorporating these basic steps, will help you to live a healthier and more productive life. Remember, combating inflammation is not a one time deal. You must work at it your whole life!

-Dr.Chris Fiorentino

TRANSFORAMINAL SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY: extremely minimally invasive surgical treatment for lower back and leg pain.

While 95% of people who sustain an injury to their lower back will recover with a combination of conservative treatment and preventative measures there is a small group of patients who fail to respond to these measures.

This article is meant for those patients who remain unhappy with their symptoms and have been advised by their treating physicians that they would have to live with their present symptomatology or undergo extensive spinal surgery. The following information is about SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY an alternative procedure for those patients who do not want to live with chronic pain, undergo extensive spinal surgery and do not want to have general anesthesia.

The typical patient frequently presents several months or more after having sustained an injury to the lower back with no previous history of any back problems. Initial treatment from the general practitioner, chiropractor or emergency room physician might include that the patient take anti-inflammatory medication, analgesics, muscle relaxants, limit activities and receive physiotherapy. When the patient's problem did not resolve the patient may have been sent to an orthopedic or neurosurgical specialist who scheduled the patient for an MRI scan that may have revealed one or multiple disc bulges, disc protrusions or disc herniations. The patient may have been provided with additional treatment in the form of a lower back brace and a series of epidural cortisone injections along with specific trunk/abdominal/lower back stabilization exercises or Pilates exercises. While the patient may have noticed some partial improvement with any or all of the above measures he or she may have significant residual lower back pain and radicular pain into one or both of the legs. At that point the patient may have been told that surgical intervention would be necessary in the form of either a micro lumbar laminectomy or a Metrx discectomy under general anesthesia or if the problem was more extensive that a spinal fusion or disc replacement surgery might be indicated.

At that point after thorough review of the patient's history and performing a complete physical examination and discussing the patient's MRI scan I might find that the patient could be a candidate for the SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY procedure if the patient was found to have either a contained lumbar disc protrusion or lumbar disc herniation unassociated with elements of severe arthritic changes. At that point we would recommend to the patient that additional confirmatory testing be performed in the form of a provocative discogram to determine the exact disc that is causing the residual pain and then follow the discogram with a SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY procedure.

A discogram is an X-ray study performed under flouroscopic control in an outpatient surgical center using local anesthesia. A needle is placed in the center of the abnormal disk and in an adjoining normal disc and a solution consisting of X-ray contrast dye mixed with indigo Carmine blue dye is injected into these discs. Since the patient is awake as the dye causes increasing pressure in the center of the disc most likely this will reproduce the patient symptoms in the back and/or leg pain and also define the abnormal anatomy of the damage disc on the floroscope. If the patient's symptoms are reproduced by this discogram it is considered a positive concordant discogram and the patient can then be treated with the SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY either immediately or at a later time if insurance authorization is required.

The SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY procedure is then performed under local anesthesia with the patient awake and in the prone position on special pillows. A small needle is inserted into the disc space after local anesthesia has been administered. A 7mm (1/4inch) skin incision is made and a spine arthroscope is slipped into the abnormal disc. Under fluoroscopic control, the micro-instruments (mini forceps, mini curettes, and mini cutters-shavers) and the laser probe are used for removal of only the damaged disc material. The laser is used for further removal and shrinkage of the disc for the purpose of disc decompression and tightening up of the annulus. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to an hour per disc, on the average. The amount of disc removed and shrinkage by the laser varies, but includes only the herniated and damaged portion. The supporting structure of the disc is not affected. Upon completion, the probe is removed and a small Band-Aid is applied over the needle incision. Since the patient is awake during the procedure frequently they are interested in watching the monitor as we remove the damage disc material.

After surgery the patient is sent home and advised to use ice packs on the lower back and take mild oral analgesics and rest for few days. Many patients are able to resume work within a few days. The patient are advised prior to the procedure that if the preoperative pain was primarily lower back that in excess of 86% good and excellent results should be expected. If the patient's pain was back and leg pain good and excellent results should approach 92%.

Most of the time the patient's return to the office one week later feeling much improved and wanting to know why this procedure was not performed on them earlier and why the procedure works. We believe that this technique is successful because the abnormal portion of the disc that is creating internal pressure against the annulus and nerve root is removed, the fissures in the annulus that allow leakage of disc fluid and material are sealed and tighten up and the constant flow of irrigating saline through the endoscope washes out the irritating damaged metabolites( prostaglandins, histamines,and substance P & X). No deep tissue is cut and generally no bone has to be removed.

The following patients are not candidates for selective endoscopic discectomy:

1. The rare patient than has a disk that has become a fully extruded and migrated up into the spinal canal.

2. The patient has extensive spinal stenosis will need an extensive amount of bone removed which is better done with open surgery.

3. The patient has extensive spinal instability and requires a spinal fusion that must be done with an open procedure.

For those patients who are afraid of having extensive spinal surgery and have been told that they will have to live with their lower back pain, SELECTIVE ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY is an exciting successful minimally invasive surgical alternative procedure that it is performed under local anesthesia and has a very high rate of patient satisfaction. For further information see www.back-surgery-online.com.

If you go into a medical marijuana dispensary, you will often see over 20 different kinds of product. The names of these products will sound like an alternative music rock band name, such as Purple Haze, Northern Lights, OG Kush, Bubba Kush, White Widow, or Sour Diesel.

There are no established guidelines or labs that perform quality control checks on the various strains of marijuana, so patients cannot be assured of buying the same product between various dispensaries. They should be similar in quality though.

There are 2 general strains of marijuana called indica and sativa. Most finished products these days are combination's of strains. Sativas generally have sweet, floral aromas and are said to be inspirational and energizing. They can be helpful in separating the mind from pain.

Indica blends, on the other hand, have a dry and skunk like odor. They are relaxing, sedating, and relieve stress and pain. Patients often say they work well for chronic pain in conjunction with pain medications.

People often think that the various blends work differently because of the varying ratios of cannabinoids in them. Cannabinoids are the mind altering components of marijuana, and THC is the most well known one. Interestingly, research shows that THC is the most predominant cannabinoid by far in all varieties.

Terpenes are the molecules for odor that are found in the essential oils of plants. These essential oils are used in aromatherapy because they have been found to modulate brain function and mood. Researchers are now giving credence to the belief that terpenes affect how marijuana works on the body. Assuming this is true, this means knowing what a variety smells like can predict how it will act on the body.

The most common terpene found in marijuana is Myrcene. It's earthy, fruity, citrus, and mango in quality. This terpene is a strong antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and pain reliever. It is thought to work in combination with THC, decreasing depression, elevating mood, and allowing more THC to get into the brain.

Another terpene, Beta-caryophyllene, smells peppery. It maintains pain relief qualities, but lacks a mental effect. So it is considered non-psychoactive. Pinene is another terpene that is a major component of turpentine. It has a piney odor and has been shown to increase focus, self-satisfaction, and memory. Terpenol smells floral with hints of orange blossom. It has a significant sedative effect and is great for sleep problems.

There are other terpenes that help with improving memory, which is one thing that is typically thought to be adversely affected with existing marijuana strains. One of these is Pulgone, which slows the destruction of memory transfer proteins. It helps keep people alert.

For the most part, patients looking for help sleeping should look for a floral sweet variety of marijuana with Linalool in it. As more research is performed, the different varieties of terpene and its effects on the body will hopefully become more apparent. This will help patients more effectively receiving treatment for their disease.

A C4 C5 bulging disc can be a very stubborn health condition to correct. This article will discuss what a C4 C5 bulging disc is, what causes it, common symptoms associated with it, as well as the most common treatment options available for your condition.

In order to understand what a bulging disc is, we must first understand what a spinal disc is, how it's put together, and what it does.

The discs of the spine are special types of ligaments that are found between each set of vertebrae (bones of the spine). Their purpose is to hold the spine together, and to act as a cushion or shock absorber with movement.

Each disc of the spine is made up of a firm outer covering (called the annulus), and a jelly center (called the nucleus). They almost look like jelly doughnuts.

If something occurs to damage the annulus (the outer covering of the disc), the jelly can begin to shift to the weak area, which causes the disc to bulge. This is why this condition is referred to as a bulging disc. You may also hear it referred to as a herniated disc, slipped disc, etc.

What's interesting about the disc is that it doesn't have the ability to feel pain sensations. I realize this sounds a bit odd, but think about it - if the main purpose of the spinal discs is to absorb shock from movement, wouldn't it be wise if we didn't feel them? I don't know about you, but I'm thankful I don't feel pain with every movement I make.

At this point, you're probably wondering why a C4 C5 bulging disc can be so painful if it doesn't feel pain. The reason is because of where the bulge usually occurs. The disc usually bulges at the back of the disc, which is right next to the spinal cord and nerves of the spine.

The nerves of the spine control everything in the body. If there is any pressure applied to them, they become very aggravated and can cause incredible pain.

Even more significant, though, is the disability that can occur because of the pressure on these nerves. For example, a C4 C5 bulging disc will affect the nerves that control the arms, hands, shoulders, neck, head, chest, eyes, ears, and many other parts of the body.

Because of this, it is very common for a person with this condition to experience other symptoms besides neck pain. Symptoms such as pain, burning, weakness, or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand, blurred vision, headaches, ringing in the ears, chest pain, difficulty breathing, etc.

The cause of a C4 C5 bulging disc is different for everyone, but in general, the most common cause is some type of injury or trauma. Car accidents, falls, sports injuries, etc. are all common causes of a bulging disc.

Although this may be the case for most, a bulging disc can also occur from deterioration that occurs in the disc over time. As we use our spine (which is pretty much all the time), the discs can deteriorate due to normal wear and tear. This creates a weakness in the outer layer of the disc, which can also lead to a bulging disc over time.

Let's discuss some of the most common treatment options available for healing a C4 C5 bulging disc. Most doctors will recommend medications (usually a combination of pain relievers and muscle relaxers), pain injections (such as cortisone or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort).

Although these treatments will often provide relief, it is important to realize that they do not generally provide long-term results. This is because most of these treatments are designed to numb the involved nerves (which provides relief), but they do not actually address the cause of the problem, which is the injured disc.

I've actually found that a combination of treatments is most effective for this condition, and there are about 30 steps a person needs to take in order to help the disc heal completely, which provides lasting relief.

Let's discuss just 3 things you can do at home right now to start the healing process.

First, I would recommend that you use ice on your neck if you are experiencing pain. Ice is usually the fastest way to experience relief, and although this sounds pretty simple, I can't tell you the number of times I've had people tell me they use heat with this condition.

Heat is really one of the worst things you can do if you are experiencing pain, because the body is going through an inflammatory process, which is where the body will send blood to the injured area to try and fix it. This will cause swelling and excessive heat in the area, so what do you think will happen if you apply heat to it? That's right - it will get more inflamed and aggravated.

Apply the ice over the middle of the back of your neck for 15 minutes or until the area becomes numb. Then repeat this every hour. If you do this consistently, you should start to notice some improvement in the pain levels within 3 to 4 treatments, and it should calm down considerably in about 3 days.

The second tip I would recommend is that you watch the way you are sleeping. Make sure you are only using one pillow, and that you are not sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping with extra pillows under your head will cause the neck to bend excessively which puts a lot of strain on the discs of the neck. Sleeping on your stomach forces you to turn your head to the side, and this excessive rotation can also be hard on the disc.

Finally, I would recommend that you bounce on a therapy ball. Therapy balls are those large balls you see at health clubs. Simply sit on the ball and bounce gently up and down for about 5 minutes every day. This will pump the discs of the spine (even in the neck), which pumps new oxygen and nutrition into the disc for faster healing.

If you would like more information about the essential steps you can take to heal a C4 C5 bulging disc, please visit http://www.healyourbulgingdisc.com

I have been working in the medical marketing profession for a few years now, and one thing remains a constant in all medical professions; Receptionists are not closers. That's right; I said it, receptionists, the front line of your practice, the first person any new patient speaks with, the ambassador of your livelihood, is not a closer! Since working with a product that tracks and records all calls, I have learned a lot about this aspect of the business. Many receptionists aren't friendly, others try to treat patients over the phone, and others, well, just don't care.

So, the other day one of my long time clients called me and asked me, "Rory, how do I make my receptionist a closer? My phone is ringing, but the patients aren't flowing." I listened to his calls, quickly figured out his dilemma, and came up with this; 5 Ways to Make Your Receptionist A Closer!

1. Have them smile when they answer the telephone. You can hear a smile; you can hear the positive energy. People like speaking with pleasant people.


2. Assume the Appointment. They need to assume that every patient they speak to is interested in an appointment. Why else are they calling a doctor's office? Have them suggest times as opposed to having the patient suggest a time. For example, "What's better for you, Thursday at 9 am or Wednesday at 2 pm?" Very assumptive, the question isn't if you're going to come in, it's when you're going to come in!


3. Don't treat the patient over the phone. A lot of patients call in, complaining of their problems and sometimes try to get the quick fix over the phone. Instead of trying to diagnose, the receptionist should take this time to schedule them an appointment. For example, "I'm sorry to hear your in pain, my doctor is really great, and he has an opening today at 2 pm. Does that work for you?"


4. Get a phone # and email. These are great tools to have in the system to send appointment reminders, as well as some internal marketing.


5. Educate them on your techniques. An educated receptionist is a confident receptionist. Make sure they know your techniques. If you specialize in Spinal Decompression Therapy, make sure they know what that means. They should know if you have a laser or have a drop table or any other sort of specialty.

Thanks to technology, there are multiple avenues to go down that give you the ability to record your phone calls and monitor your receptionists, but ChiroAppointment.com is by far the easiest and most cost effective.

First off, it is not uncommon and you are not the only one to suffer from severe back pain during pregnancy, BUT it does not have to mean you have to go on with suffering. There are things you can do to reduce and even stop!

Let's first understand why you are dealing with this back pain right now. Your body is going through major changes in such a short time. The extra weight of the belly is adding additional strain on your back and if not taken care of, it progresses.

One thing you should know is, that if this pain is not taken care of, the problem can follow you for the rest of your life, and it is not something you want to live with I know. And this is not a small problem as currently ½ of the people living in this world are suffering from some kind of the back pain! 

Now what can you do to correct the problem? First off, you need to get the extra strain of your back as much as possible. One thing that can aid you during daily tasks is the pregnancy belly belt. You of course need to use it every day, to see the difference, but it does help. 

When you sleep at night, you have to support your back as well. The maternity pillows do miracles with helping to ease the strain your back is taking on. 

What you really need is the list of pregnancy stretching exercises, out of all of them, this will help you a lot. You need to take it slowly at first, BUT, the more you progress with it, the severe back pain during pregnancy you are experiencing right now, will turn into mild back pain and sometimes non existent! 

Epidural steroid injections are a very effective treatment for pain management and patients with radiculopathy due to nerve root inflammation. Placing steroid medication around the nerve root that is either being compressed from a herniated disc or chemically inflamed can help significantly with pain reduction and potentially surgery avoidance. They do not "fix" the problem, they simply reduce the inflammation, thereby reducing pain.

When a patient receives an epidural steroid injection, the pain relief that is the result may allow that individual to then perform physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and/or undergo spinal decompression treatment. Prior to the injection, the patient may be in so much pain that it may not be possible to participate in these treatments.

Most studies on epidural steroid injections that have been performed involved the interlaminar approach with the injections. The newer type of injections, referred to as trans-foraminal, have not been the subject of a heavy amount of research. A lot of the initial research on epidural steroid injections was done with the inter-laminar variation of the injections.

One of the issues with these initial studies was that they were not performed using a real time x-ray guidance machine, called a fluoroscopy. Unfortunately, there was at least a 40% miss rate with these injections, so whether or not the studies' injections were accurate is questionable.

Interlaminar injections place the steroid medication in the back part of the epidural space. The newer type of epidural injection, trans-foraminal injections, places the steroid medication farther out the region where the nerve root is trying to exit from the spine. This is typically the area where he herniated disc pushes on the nerve root, creating a pinched nerve situation. As mentioned, the steroid doesn't make the disc herniation "un-herniate" in any way.

There have been some recent studies looking at inter-laminar epidural steroid injections versus the transforaminal variety. Essentially what the studies are showing is that both of the injection types are effective, and equally so. Functional outcomes appear to be equivalent as well. The improvements allow patients to undergo therapy better, work more, and socialize without the unbearable pain.

One of the consistent findings in the recent literature is that epidural steroid injections overall are very effective through either techniques for improving the symptoms from radiculopathy due to a herniated disc. The overall effectiveness is greater than 75%, and some studies have shown upwards of a 90% response rate, particularly in those patients who are symptomatic for less than three months.

One of the overlying conclusions here is that either technique is effective for radiculopathy, but that real-time x-ray guidance should be incorporated to make sure that the epidural steroid medications are being placed most accurately for the benefit of the patient.

Chiropractic spinal traction therapy is a method of stretching and mobilizing the spine using hands-on or mechanic force. Alleviation in pain is sought with therapeutic spinal traction by loosening tight and/or constricted muscles around the spine, and to help decompress intervertebral discs in order to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve roots, which is a major cause of back and spine related pain.

As with other chiropractic treatments, spinal traction may or may not help alleviate your pain, often times with chiropractic treatment what works on one patient may not be right for others.

Your chiropractor will evaluate your condition and determine if traction, and in what form, is right for you.

There are several types of spinal traction, lumbar or cervical, and whether it is done manually or with a traction device:

繚 Manual cervical traction is performed with the patient lying on the table in the supine position while the chiropractor holds the patients head and gently pulls or turns the head.

繚 Mechanical cervical traction is a device that consists of a head harness and pulley system that utilizes weights to apply the force. The patient may use this device while sitting, lying flat, or in a reclined position. This method of traction is often done at home by the patient themselves after having been properly instructed by the chiropractor in the correct technique.

繚 Manual lumbar traction is performed by the chiropractor by having the patient lay on the treatment table and then gently pulls on the ankles or by putting the patient's legs on the chiropractor's shoulders whereupon they grasp the patient's thighs and pull, or a waist harness may be utilized to apply the force.

繚 Mechanical traction may be performed by use of a split table style traction device that consists of a computer controlled two level table that the patient lays on and grasps two handles while the lower level of the table applies the force by means of attachment of a waist harness. However, when the spine is in a state of deterioration, such as from osteoporosis, spinal traction is not a treatment option. Other conditions that would exclude a patient from utilizing traction include pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, hernia, and in some cases TMJ. Some mechanical spinal traction devices are considered experimental at this point and so your insurance may or may not pay for this treatment.

Spinal traction therapy is often used in conjunction with other forms of chiropractic treatment and physical therapy for maximum benefit.

Reports on opioids in the US continue to elucidate interesting facts on opioid use and abuse. With opioid use at an all time high in the US, more research is being performed to show some of the issues surrounding use. In fact, pain in American now represents an annually $550 billion industry, with approximately 1/3 of citizens currently dealing with a pain problem. The more we know, the better. Here are 5 interesting facts.

1. Research shows narcotic use is higher among the less educated and unemployed. A recent report in the American Journal of Medicine specifically looked at fibromyalgia patients receiving opioids for their pain. There was an increased incidence of unemployment, disability payments, and history of substance abuse. Also, the statistics showed overall lower education and an increased incidence of unstable psychiatric disorders. The study was not small and contained over 450 patients, so the results were most likely valid despite potential statistical variances.

2. Sleep is affected significantly by opioids. A large review of studies was published in Postgraduate Medicine looking at the effect of narcotics on sleeping patterns. What popped out? Well, opioid users displayed significant incidence of insomnia, arousals, and wakefulness. There was also a temporary absence of REM sleep, which is the type of sleep people go into as they go deeper into sleep. So narcotics appear to affect both the quality and quantity of sleep, which is obviously suboptimal for patients who have painful conditions and need sleep for regeneration and healing potential.

3. Patients in chronic pain are likely to take opioids for multiple years. A study done at the Universities of Washington and Arkansas showed when patients are prescribed opioids for chronic pain, they are likely to still be taking them 5 years later. Interestingly, there were 2 factors that lead to the continued usage. One was if the patient had been prescribed the drugs before, and the other was if the patients were prescribed doses in excess of 120 milligrams of morphine. Of note, that is a hefty dose.

4. Older adults can suffer from pneumonia from Opioids. In patients between the ages of 65 and 94, recent research has shown a link between narcotics and pneumonia. The project looked at those patients contracting pneumonia and whether those folks had taken narcotics or benzodiazepines prior to contracting the illness. The results were impressive, with 14% of the patients with pneumonia having taken opioids prior, compared with only 8% in the control group (who did not have pneumonia). Individuals were 3 times more likely to contract pneumonia within the first 2 weeks of taking narcotics.

5. Wounded soldiers often become addicted to painkillers. In a House Appropriations Committee report, it was shown that between 25 to 35% of wounded soldiers become addicted to narcotics while waiting to receive a medical discharge. Most of the time the prescribed medication is Oxycodone. The military is delving into alternatives to narcotics, but unfortunately great ones are simply not available as of yet. Multi-modal pain management treatment with several disciplines involve may be able to eventually decrease this hefty percentage.

Chinese Acupuncture for neck pain involves the insertion of small needles into the skin to reduce or eliminate pain and improve mobility in the cervical region of the spine. Chinese acupuncture is often used to care for problems such as whiplash, muscle stiffness, and facet arthritis (facet syndrome).

Chinese acupuncturists rely on channels called meridians, which they believe serve as pathways for the flow of energy throughout the body. Acupuncturists recognize 12 main meridians and several minor ones. Along these meridians are hundreds of acupuncture points. Acupuncturists believe that the body's energy flows very close to the surface of the skin at these specific points.

The first session with an acupuncture specialist begins with a consultation to figure out the problem with a history and physical to create a tailored plan for treatment. The actual treatments being with acupuncture needles being placed in the neck region along the meridians of the cervical spine. The needles may also be placed around the patient's ears for pain relief.

During the procedure, patients lay face down on a comfortable table and the treatment areas are sterilized. The acupuncturist then carefully inserts needles into various skin areas. the acupuncturist may also attach a device called an electrical nerve stimulator, which sends small electrical impulses which can provide substantial pain relief and increase the effectiveness of the treatment. This is similar to a TENS unit treatment.

The acupuncturist's goal is to restore the proper balance of energy throughout the body. Acupuncture is safe and can by highly effective. Best results are typically achieved with multiple treatments.