Post surgical acupuncture
Many patients that have had surgeries for orthopedic issues; breaks, discs, ACL, Rotator cuff, among others. Some are great, the patient feels almost immediate improvement, quick recovery and no further problems. A significant number have complications. Some complications are simple and easy to remedy.
Some people get numbness at the surgical site as well as further down stream (distally) to the area of surgery. In this example I was presented with a 45 year old male with a history of falling from a ladder which caused a crush or impacted fracture as well as a complex (compound or open) fracture of the ankle itself on the lateral side. He had surgery almost one year previously having installed metal plates and multiple screws.
Since the surgery his foot was constantly hot and swollen. He had been checked numerous times for infection and all tests were negative. He also experienced numbness in the top and sides of the foot on the same side of the surgical scar. The scar on the lateral side of the ankle was in a zig zag pattern because the bone had pierced the skin and had be surgically repaired.
Evaluation revealed neruopathy (a nerve problem) with paraesthesia (non normal sensation of the nerve) of the lateral Plantar nerve on the inside (medial part) of the ankle and the sural nerve on the lateral (outside) side. This also caused the bottoms of his feet to be occasionally tingly. He had been on medications to reduce his sensation as well as had a number of injections in the past. All without success.
We decided on a trial of acupuncture as as well as some 'dry needle' technique for any spasmed muscles in the area. The points used for the acupuncture were; Laterally: BL62, just inferior (below) the lateral maleolus, (that is the outer ankle bone), BL 61 which is at the point where the achilles tendon meets the heel. (at the calcaneal bone)
Many patients that have had surgeries for orthopedic issues; breaks, discs, ACL, Rotator cuff, among others. Some are great, the patient feels almost immediate improvement, quick recovery and no further problems. A significant number have complications. Some complications are simple and easy to remedy.
Some people get numbness at the surgical site as well as further down stream (distally) to the area of surgery. In this example I was presented with a 45 year old male with a history of falling from a ladder which caused a crush or impacted fracture as well as a complex (compound or open) fracture of the ankle itself on the lateral side. He had surgery almost one year previously having installed metal plates and multiple screws.
Since the surgery his foot was constantly hot and swollen. He had been checked numerous times for infection and all tests were negative. He also experienced numbness in the top and sides of the foot on the same side of the surgical scar. The scar on the lateral side of the ankle was in a zig zag pattern because the bone had pierced the skin and had be surgically repaired.
Evaluation revealed neruopathy (a nerve problem) with paraesthesia (non normal sensation of the nerve) of the lateral Plantar nerve on the inside (medial part) of the ankle and the sural nerve on the lateral (outside) side. This also caused the bottoms of his feet to be occasionally tingly. He had been on medications to reduce his sensation as well as had a number of injections in the past. All without success.
We decided on a trial of acupuncture as as well as some 'dry needle' technique for any spasmed muscles in the area. The points used for the acupuncture were; Laterally: BL62, just inferior (below) the lateral maleolus, (that is the outer ankle bone), BL 61 which is at the point where the achilles tendon meets the heel. (at the calcaneal bone)
