Does acupuncture hurt?

Most of my patients tell me that acupuncture is almost painless. Typically, patients feel a small prick as the needle first breaks the skin, but after that most say they can no longer feel the needle. Keep in mind, the needles I use are extremely thin, much MUCH smaller than an injection needle they would use at the doctor's office.

How long does a treatment last?

If it is your first time in to see me it usually takes about 90 minutes. We will sit down and go through all your paperwork and medical history. We will also establish what your goals are and what you want to get out of your treatments. All return visits usually last about 60 minutes.

How long do the needles stay in?

I like for you to retain the needles for approximately 27 minutes. You will be seated in a chair or lying down on a massage table while the needles are in.

Do I have to be undressed to have a treatment?

I like to ask most of my patients to wear or bring a pair of loose fitting shorts and a tee shirt. If they wear these, in most cases I can work around them. However, depending on the area I need to work on, such as hip, upper leg, or lower back, most patients are more comfortable undressed with a towel or sheet draped over them.

How much does a treatment cost?

A first visit is a little higher than all subsequent visits due to it being longer and more detailed history is taken. First visits are $150 and return visits are $90. Packages are also available, pay for nine visits, get the tenth free. Cupping or guasha is $40 per 15 minutes.

Do you accept insurance?

I am in-network with select plans through Veterans Community Care and United Health Care.

Payment is due upon completion of treatment in the form of Cash, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, even if you have insurance. I will bill out the insurance and you can be reimbursed once the insurance has paid. In the case where an established payment is being made via insurance, only your co-pay or deductible is due at time of treatment.

Many insurance companies will pay for all or part of Acupuncture treatments directly or through a Health Care Savings Account deduction. This is typically done by using a Superbill. It is also good to know, if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), they often come with a debit card for the account that is accepted, as this is a medical service.

How many treatments will I need?

This is a difficult question to answer from the practitioner standpoint. While many patients see improvement almost immediately, some cases do take longer to see results. This is especially true for people that have struggled with a pain or disease for a very long time.

What I strive for is improvement within five to seven treatments, even if it is a small change. Depending on the symptoms and longevity of them, it can take more treatments. Everything is based on how the individual person is responding to treatment.

How often do I need to come in for a treatment?

When you first begin acupuncture therapy I recommend coming in at least twice a week. We often see more of an improvement in the patients who come in frequently in the beginning. Think of it like getting back into good physical shape. You don't exercise once a week and expect your body to feel good and be in peak condition. You have to exercise at least two or three times a week so that your body can maintain its good condition. The same theory applies to your body's energy, or Qi. Its best to keep with the same frequency to get your body into a rhythm with treatments.

Once I've reached my goal as far as acupuncture is concerned do I need to keep coming back?

Typically its best to come in once every 4-6 weeks. This avoids starting over with treatment from the beginning. If your body tells you to come in before that, certainly listen to it! I would prefer for my patients not to wait and see how long they can go before having a relapse of their pain or disease symptoms. Scheduling an appointment once every 4-6 weeks as a preventive measure, or an acupuncture tune-up as I like to call it, is the best method to maintain ones health. You know your body best. I let you judge when you need to come back in and see me. Even if you don't need a treatment I would love for you to drop in and see me.

Are there any side-effects of acupuncture?

There is little to no negative side effects of acupuncture. Some people report minor soreness in the areas where needles were introduced, but this usually dissipates in 24 hours. It is also possible to bruise from an acupuncture treatment, but we take every possible precaution to prevent that. Most patients say that their favorite side effect was relaxation and a great night's sleep.