“Can more than one condition be treated in an acupuncture session?”
I'm going to get acupuncture to relieve some pain in my back and shoulders. But I also have issues with arthritis, mainly in my fingers. Can an acupuncturist work on both conditions at once?
38 Answers
Thank you for your question. Yes. The Acupuncturist can treat more than one issue at a time, but it depends on the severity of the issues. Each physician work differently, so its up the them. This is a question you may ask the Acupuncturist that will be treating you. Good luck with condition. Wishing you all the best!
Sincerely, Yours in Health!
Sincerely, Yours in Health!
yes
Yes they should be addressing both physical aliments. You might need a new Acupuncturist than can cover more in one session. www.acufinder.com look for an in your area.
Yes, acupuncture balances all the body, and when you get the treatment, it helps all your body.
It may. If the treatment focus is on underlining imbalance in your body, it can have positive effect on many issues at once. However some times more "surface issue" like acute pain may be primary focus of treatment and in those cases only one issue will be focused on before moving to another.
Yes, it can, and it depends on your conditions and the capabilities of your provider.
Yes, arthritis is also related to pain.
I usually recommend treating at most two, maybe three things. The times I will treat three things are because two symptoms may be related from the same origin. If you treat too many concerns, there is not clarity for the body to send its resources to promote healing. Often, people will just have no effect if too many conditions are addressed simultaneously.
Yes, acupuncture works on the whole body. It is not specific to one area. Acupuncture assists your body to heal naturally and includes all areas of concern. Some areas will heal faster than others.
Yes! When you are receiving a treatment for your back your acupuncturist is also treating your overall wellbeing including digestion, sleep, mood, and immune system. And yes, you can definitely treat more than one pain at a time.
Acupuncture can help relieve local and systemic pain simultaneously.
When you are treated with acupuncture your doctor will treat all conditions or imbalances to create overall health. We never treat just the condition due to the fact that imbalances in other areas may be the true cause of your condition or at the very least may be affecting it.
Quite simply put, yes. Your health history will provide an accurate indication of what patterns exist in your body. Acupuncture is a holistic medicine, which means that everything is connected and your whole body is addressed during treatment; Not just your chief complaint.
Absolutely!!!! Your acupuncturist will do a full health history exam and find the root of your pain. It can be treated in many ways and there are different styles of acupuncture. Ask your practitioner what she or he is doing and why. I like to inform all of my patients why I am doing what I am and how it will help them. I find that keeping them involved in their treatment allows for open communication and ultimately, better treatment outcomes. Good luck!!!
Yes, your with acupuncture more than one condition can be addressed, of course it depends on your diagnosis from the point of view on oriental medicine...
Often times there's one root cause to many health conditions according to TCM. It depends on the acupuncturist if they want to treat the manifestations first, or if they want to treat both the root cause and the manifestations. It is important to let your acupuncturist know your health history and concerns and answer all the questions the acupuncturist may have. From there they can determine what needs to be done.
Yes. Acupuncture is the best way for arthritis for both acute and chronic.
Hi there, always consult your primary physician before seeking other type of treatment. Having said that, yes acupuncture can treat more than one condition. However it is advise to treat one out a time because that way you and the acupuncturist can keep track of the improvement of the condition easier.
Hi! Yes they can! They will usually focus on two to three chief complaints. Once they are resolved, the other signs and symptoms can disappear on its own.
Absolutely! This type of healing art is more with balance so, when our energy is balanced, then many different parts of body experience relief. One of my patients who came for acid reflux was actually experienced finger pain relief from Rheumatoid arthritis.
Yes. Most health conditions can be treated at the same time with acupuncture, even if they seem unrelated. Arthritis, back pain and shoulder pain are easily treated at the same time. Local points may be used directly in the areas involved and points remote from the areas may also be used to treat any imbalances at the root level.
Acupuncture can treat your pain in the back, shoulder, and arthritis on your fingers. In fact, you should feel some difference after your first visit.
Yes, definitely.
Yes in general acupuncture boosts the immune system, helps balance blood pressure and improves circulation.
Yes, it can. The acupuncturist will have a differential diagnosis that addresses both conditions. The arthritis is more a chronic version of the back and shoulder pain, most likely, so the shoulder pain might relieve more quickly, but with time both should resolve.
Hi.Yes acupuncture can work on multiple conditions, including those that you listed.
Yes, is the simple answer.
Hope it helps.
Hope it helps.
I would absolutely hope so. Acupuncture is a whole body approach. Muscle pain and arthritis may be inter-related depending on the origin of the problem. I like to take as much information as possible to paint the bigger picture. Each concern/issue can change the origin of the root cause.
Usually, we evaluate if all your conditions or symptoms are associated first. For instance, you have lower back pain and neck pain. These two pain conditions may cause by different pathologic problems but they feed each other to trigger the pain, we can treat them together.
It all depends on the acupuncturist. They might decide to treat your back first and then second, your arthritis in your hands in the same session or they will tell you that they will address these conditions at a different time.
Although acupuncture can be used for many conditions, I have found in my practice that laser therapy works best for problems with pain and stiffness in the hands and fingers.
Yes. If you're seeing someone who practices Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM), they will probably put in a few needles for each of your issues. If you're seeing someone who practices Japanese style, they will treat the core weakness with just a few needles to cover all your ailments. Either way, yes, you can be treated for more than one thing at a time.
Yes.
Even though acupuncture may be stimulating a response in one area, it also may create a stimulation in other areas of pain. Yes, it is possible acupuncture can work in several areas at each treatment.
HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about a third of Americans use some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Americans spend more than $30 billion annually out-of-pocket on everything from acupuncture to Zyto scans. Despite those billions of dollars spent on CAM therapies, many are not covered by health insurance.
In the most recent study, most of these out-of-pocket expenses (over $14.7 billion dollars) went to CAM therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage. We spent another $12.8 billion on natural products, and $2.7 billion on self-care approaches, such as wellness books and homeopathic medicines.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the most commonly covered CAM therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage. Non-covered CAM therapies generally include herbs and supplements, homeopathy, kinesiology, and naturopathy. Though these procedures may not be covered, alternative healthcare costs could be reduced if policyholders better understood insurance policies and options, taking advantage of covered CAM therapies.
Many self-insured plans (insurance through employers) offer coverage for a variety of CAM therapies; however, policyholders are often unaware of these benefits and don’t know where to look for coverage information. To make matters more complicated, insurance companies will often require diagnosis and procedure codes before they can confirm coverage.
Most CAM providers do their best to verify coverage in advance. However, we’ve had patients come to us from other clinics with stories of being hit with big bills later because their insurance company verified coverage or listed it in the policy manual but failed to mention coverage was limited to specific health conditions or was only partially covered. Being told "yes" to a benefit but not being told about restrictions or limitations leads to large and unexpected out-of-pocket costs that might have been avoided were more detailed information given or obtained.
Having the correct diagnosis and procedure codes handy when calling insurance companies and asking about specific restrictions is vital to proper verification, and even then, there are challenges. Like many CAM providers, we've hired a CAM billing expert to handle verifications and billing for our practice (it's that complex).
To paint a picture of how convoluted the process can be, here are a few of the more frustrating restrictions on acupuncture we've seen through our verification process:
Unlimited acupuncture visits. Seems straightforward enough right? Nope, after the claim was denied it was revealed that acupuncture was only covered when provided in lieu of anesthesia for a covered surgery and only when performed by an anesthesiologist. Seriously? Who would even think to ask about such a restriction. Is there even a hospital in the US that would allow it? And who who want it? Not that I am aware of.
I'm an acupuncturist and I'd prefer not to be put 'under' for surgery with acupuncture and quite frankly, I wouldn't even know how to do that. Over the years I've seen this one quite a bit, which is why our billing agent specifically asks about this restriction.
We've never been able to get a solid answer on why this restriction is written into policies as it seems to violate the spirit of the benefit, but this is a battle policy holders will have to fight (and should).
Only one acupuncture visit allowed per year. While it's nice that acupuncture was offered on this plan, the benefit is nearly useless. It's much like providing a single antibiotic pill and wondering why the infection didn't clear up. Acupuncture, while an effect therapy, is unlikely to produce total resolution of any health issue with a single treatment.
An acupuncturist cannot provide acupuncture. Another restriction we've seen is acupuncture only being covered when performed by a dentist (yes, really) and some policies will only cover it of it's provided by an MD and on others only by a chiropractor and on a few occasions it was limited to a physical therapist. Because of this, our billing agent always asks if the acupuncture is covered when performed by a licensed acupuncturist because this information is rarely provided without the question being asked.
Such restrictions may be a violation of The Non-Discrimination in Health Care provision, section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act as added by the Affordable Care Act, expands the types of specialty services that health plans cover. As of January 1, 2014, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers can submit claims on behalf members for services that are:
Covered by the member's plan,
Within the scope of their licensure/certification as defined by the state statues, and
Medically necessary in accordance with state statutes.
Coverage will be based on the member's existing plan benefits and all other terms of the member's plan, including but not limited to medical and payment policy criteria.
The provision applies to all plans that include the changes mandated by the Affordable Care Act for 2014. It doesn't apply to Medicare Advantage, grandfathered, or transitional plans. Note: In November 2013, federal and state governments allowed members with small business and individual plans to keep their existing plans for 2014. These transitional plans don't include the law's new coverage requirements. Coverage Codes for Affordable Care Act lists coverage codes for all medical plans that cover benefits rendered by CAM providers.
No insurance coverage? One option for obtaining coverage for alternative medicine costs is through a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA). For more information on these options, visit: https://www.consumerreports.org/healthcare-costs/how-to-use-fsas-hsas-hras-to-cut-healthcare-costs/
The good news is that each year more insurance companies are covering evidence-based CAM therapies. There are bound to be glitches and complications as the healthcare industry adjusts, adapts and grows. Be patient, do your research, challenge policy restrictions that don't seem right, call your congressman or representative. Change is happening but only because Americans are reaching out and making their voices heard.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about a third of Americans use some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Americans spend more than $30 billion annually out-of-pocket on everything from acupuncture to Zyto scans. Despite those billions of dollars spent on CAM therapies, many are not covered by health insurance.
In the most recent study, most of these out-of-pocket expenses (over $14.7 billion dollars) went to CAM therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage. We spent another $12.8 billion on natural products, and $2.7 billion on self-care approaches, such as wellness books and homeopathic medicines.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the most commonly covered CAM therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage. Non-covered CAM therapies generally include herbs and supplements, homeopathy, kinesiology, and naturopathy. Though these procedures may not be covered, alternative healthcare costs could be reduced if policyholders better understood insurance policies and options, taking advantage of covered CAM therapies.
Many self-insured plans (insurance through employers) offer coverage for a variety of CAM therapies; however, policyholders are often unaware of these benefits and don’t know where to look for coverage information. To make matters more complicated, insurance companies will often require diagnosis and procedure codes before they can confirm coverage.
Most CAM providers do their best to verify coverage in advance. However, we’ve had patients come to us from other clinics with stories of being hit with big bills later because their insurance company verified coverage or listed it in the policy manual but failed to mention coverage was limited to specific health conditions or was only partially covered. Being told "yes" to a benefit but not being told about restrictions or limitations leads to large and unexpected out-of-pocket costs that might have been avoided were more detailed information given or obtained.
Having the correct diagnosis and procedure codes handy when calling insurance companies and asking about specific restrictions is vital to proper verification, and even then, there are challenges. Like many CAM providers, we've hired a CAM billing expert to handle verifications and billing for our practice (it's that complex).
To paint a picture of how convoluted the process can be, here are a few of the more frustrating restrictions on acupuncture we've seen through our verification process:
Unlimited acupuncture visits. Seems straightforward enough right? Nope, after the claim was denied it was revealed that acupuncture was only covered when provided in lieu of anesthesia for a covered surgery and only when performed by an anesthesiologist. Seriously? Who would even think to ask about such a restriction. Is there even a hospital in the US that would allow it? And who who want it? Not that I am aware of.
I'm an acupuncturist and I'd prefer not to be put 'under' for surgery with acupuncture and quite frankly, I wouldn't even know how to do that. Over the years I've seen this one quite a bit, which is why our billing agent specifically asks about this restriction.
We've never been able to get a solid answer on why this restriction is written into policies as it seems to violate the spirit of the benefit, but this is a battle policy holders will have to fight (and should).
Only one acupuncture visit allowed per year. While it's nice that acupuncture was offered on this plan, the benefit is nearly useless. It's much like providing a single antibiotic pill and wondering why the infection didn't clear up. Acupuncture, while an effect therapy, is unlikely to produce total resolution of any health issue with a single treatment.
An acupuncturist cannot provide acupuncture. Another restriction we've seen is acupuncture only being covered when performed by a dentist (yes, really) and some policies will only cover it of it's provided by an MD and on others only by a chiropractor and on a few occasions it was limited to a physical therapist. Because of this, our billing agent always asks if the acupuncture is covered when performed by a licensed acupuncturist because this information is rarely provided without the question being asked.
Such restrictions may be a violation of The Non-Discrimination in Health Care provision, section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act as added by the Affordable Care Act, expands the types of specialty services that health plans cover. As of January 1, 2014, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers can submit claims on behalf members for services that are:
Covered by the member's plan,
Within the scope of their licensure/certification as defined by the state statues, and
Medically necessary in accordance with state statutes.
Coverage will be based on the member's existing plan benefits and all other terms of the member's plan, including but not limited to medical and payment policy criteria.
The provision applies to all plans that include the changes mandated by the Affordable Care Act for 2014. It doesn't apply to Medicare Advantage, grandfathered, or transitional plans. Note: In November 2013, federal and state governments allowed members with small business and individual plans to keep their existing plans for 2014. These transitional plans don't include the law's new coverage requirements. Coverage Codes for Affordable Care Act lists coverage codes for all medical plans that cover benefits rendered by CAM providers.
No insurance coverage? One option for obtaining coverage for alternative medicine costs is through a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA). For more information on these options, visit: https://www.consumerreports.org/healthcare-costs/how-to-use-fsas-hsas-hras-to-cut-healthcare-costs/
The good news is that each year more insurance companies are covering evidence-based CAM therapies. There are bound to be glitches and complications as the healthcare industry adjusts, adapts and grows. Be patient, do your research, challenge policy restrictions that don't seem right, call your congressman or representative. Change is happening but only because Americans are reaching out and making their voices heard.
Yes absolutely!
The various arthritides are known as "Bi" (pronounced BEE) syndromes and have protocols to treat each different kind.
For example osteo-arthritis is usually from over-use of the joint where as Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder. Your back and shoulders issues may be connected to the issue you're having in you hands therefore in my clinic I would definitely be addressing both.
The various arthritides are known as "Bi" (pronounced BEE) syndromes and have protocols to treat each different kind.
For example osteo-arthritis is usually from over-use of the joint where as Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder. Your back and shoulders issues may be connected to the issue you're having in you hands therefore in my clinic I would definitely be addressing both.
Hi,
Yes. Multiple conditions can be treated at one treatment session.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In Lee
Yes. Multiple conditions can be treated at one treatment session.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In Lee
Different acupuncturists practice in different ways and use different systems of acupuncture, so I can't really speak for everyone. What I can say is: in my clinic if back and shoulder pain along with hand/finger pain due to arthritis were your chief complaints, then I'd find a way to treat both in the same session.
Short version: yes, both your issues could be treated at the same time.
Short version: yes, both your issues could be treated at the same time.
