For pain, I often use a variety of different techniques that I have gathered over the years - I love working with injuries and helping you to get healed and back to what you do, whether this be just day to day life, sporting hobbies or getting battered on a rugby field! I have lots of tools under my belt from both modern and western therapies which can be utilised, all depending on your needs. They will likely involve needles or cups though - its what I do! If I had a penny for the amount of times I have heard someone tell me they are scared of needles and then realise acupuncture needles are SO tiny, and it doesn't hurt, and then proceed to fall asleep on my massage couch, well I would be very rich!
I have vast experience in treating new, acute injuries or chronic conditions, headaches, migraines, shoulder aches and pains, back pain and sciatica, knee pain, sports injuries, strains, tendonitis - not to mention seasonal allergies like hayfever, anxiety, insomnia.. the list goes on!
Treatments may include various techniques of advanced styles of acupuncture, remedial massage, electro acupuncture, taping, cupping, specific stretching for deep relief, and rehab exercises where required.
Below is an overview of the just some of the types of treatment I can utilise in clinic to treat physical pain, whether that be a sports injury or a pesky niggle that keeps creeping up on you.
First things first, you might look like you've been hugging a friendly octopus after cupping, but its worth it! Cupping therapy is an alternative therapy that involves suctioning the skin with glass, plastic, or silicone cups. I most often utilise traditional fire cupping where a flame is passed through the glass cup to remove the oxygen, creating a suction effect when applied to the skin. It increases blood flow by up to 200% locally, whilst helping to remove the toxins and so it's natural pain relief at a deeper level. The cupping marks serve as a super diagnostics tool for me because the darker the mark when the cup is removed, the more stagnation was removed and so, it helps me to see where the issue is coming from - rather than simply chasing symptoms - we don't want to do that!
If you've been following me for a while, you'll know I love acupuncture. When it comes to pain and injuries, I find it often helps people progress more quickly than soft tissue treatments alone, such as massage.
Acupuncture is recognised by doctors and recommended in NICE guidelines for chronic primary pain, offering a natural alternative or addition to long-term pain medication for many people. It can be incredibly effective for lower back pain, shoulder problems, tendon injuries, sports injuries, and many other musculoskeletal conditions.
One of the reasons I love it is that it works on multiple levels. As well as helping to reduce pain, it supports your body's own healing processes, allowing you to move more comfortably and recover more efficiently.
I use a range of acupuncture styles depending on what you need. If you're in acute pain, I may use Battlefield Acupuncture, a technique using points on the ear that can provide remarkably fast pain relief for some people. I also regularly use Master Tung Acupuncture, a style renowned for producing rapid changes in pain and movement.
Every treatment is tailored to you. The best approach depends on your symptoms, how long you've had the problem, your medical history, and how your body presents on the day. There isn't a one-size-fits-all treatment, my job is to choose the technique that gives you the best chance of feeling and moving better as quickly as possible. This may require acupuncture that will relax you completely and pop you into a state of deep calm.
Battlefield Acupuncture is a specialised ear acupuncture protocol developed to help provide rapid pain relief.
Using a series of tiny needles placed at specific points on the ear, this technique can be used alongside traditional acupuncture to support a wide range of painful conditions, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain, headaches and acute injuries.
Many patients notice improvements in pain levels, mobility and comfort during treatment, making it a valuable tool for both acute and chronic pain management.
Auricular acupuncture involves stimulating carefully selected points on the ear which correspond to different areas and systems of the body.
Often used to support stress, anxiety, sleep, emotional wellbeing and overall balance, ear acupuncture can be used as a standalone treatment or alongside body acupuncture.
This is a popular type of treatment for anyone who is apprehensive about body needling and is deeply relaxing.