| Back to Balance Center for Healthy Living |
724-448-4437
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Frequently Asked Questions: Acupuncture Treatment Q: Can acupuncture help my condition? A: According to the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization acupuncture can be used successfully for the treatment of many different diseases and conditions. You may browse through the treatable conditions link on this page but the best source of information concerning treatment of your condition is your physician and a licensed acupuncturist. If you don’t know a qualified acupuncturist you may visit the Association for Professional Acupuncture in PA at http://www.acupuncturepa.org/ or the NCCAOM at www.nccaom.org Q: Do I need a physician referral for acupuncture treatment? A: In the state of Pennsylvania physician referral is no longer required for acupuncture treatment. However, if you have a medical condition you need to seek treatment from your medical doctor. Also, if your condition does not improve within a 60 day period from the onset of treatment, a diagnosis from your PCP will be necessary for you to continue receiving acupuncture treatments. Q: Does acupuncture hurt? A: Acupuncture uses very small, very light needles that unlike needles used in hypodermic injection do not have a cutting edge. Therefore, the sensation of the needle being inserted is very minimal; some patients may not feel the insertion at all. After the needle is inserted the patient may experience a heavy, distended, sore, or achy feeling around the area of effective acupuncture. Q: Is acupuncture safe? A: At Back to Balance we use only sterile, prepackaged, single use disposable needles which ensure that there is no risk of disease transmission. As with any medical technique there are some risks involved. These risks are minimal and are fully explained to the patient before consent for treatment is obtained. The most common side effect of acupuncture is bruising or a drop of blood at the site of the needle insertion. Q: I don’t “believe” in acupuncture. Will treatment still work for me? A: Although faith is an important healing modality in its own right, acupuncture has been used successfully for centuries on infants, dogs, cats, and horses most of whom probably did not “believe” in it either. Acupuncture is medicine. It is not based in belief systems or ideology and although confidence in your practitioner is important, a “belief” in acupuncture is not necessary for successful treatment. Q: How many treatments will I need? A: The number of treatments needed to resolve your condition can only be determined after proper consultation with your physician and your acupuncturist and depends on the condition being treated. An acute painful condition of recent onset may be resolved in 2-3 treatments while treatment for a chronic degenerative disease of long duration may take 8-15 treatments for before an initial response is seen. Q: Will my health insurance cover the costs of my treatment? A: Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the costs of acupuncture treatment; however, some medical insurance, workman’s comp. and personal injury will cover all or at least a percentage of the costs. Back to Balance does not bill any insurance for treatment. We will provide you with a super bill to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please contact your insurance company directly to inquire about reimbursement/coverage for acupuncture treatment. Q: What happens during a typical treatment? A: During the first treatment an extensive interview and history taking session are involved. Be prepared to spend at least 1 ½ hours for the initial visit and treatment. Follow up treatments last approximately 40-60 minutes. After the interview the patient is positioned either lying or sitting comfortably. The patient may be required to remove some articles of clothing, but will be kept modesty draped at all times. The needles are inserted in various locations of the body based on the patient’s specific TCM diagnosis. Needles are typically retained for 15-30 minutes. Patients are encouraged to relax during this period. Some patients may actually doze off. Q: How do I prepare for my acupuncture treatment? A: Try to avoid being rushed during the day of your treatment. Staying calm and relaxed makes for a much more enjoyable and effective treatment. Make sure to eat within a reasonable time frame before treatment, but avoid big meals or snacks immediately before your appointment. Tongue diagnosis is used as part of the history taking so avoiding gums, mints or hard candies which may change the color of your tongue is also important. |