Category: Case Studies

A Pain In The Neck – Disc Prolapse/Referred Pain

Gareth came to see me following the recommendation of a local Physiotherapist (cheers Tom!). He had a disc issue in his neck and referred nerve pain down his arm which was quite painful. He’d had acupuncture previously on a knee injury which had been successful so was open to the process.

Apart from the obvious discomfort caused by the disc problem, Gareth trained hard at the gym and it was affecting his ability to stay fit.

Disc prolapse can’t be ‘cured’ as such, but acupuncture is incredibly effective in dampening the nerve signals to reduce inflammation and pain. I used Tuina remedial massage to soften the muscles and spinal acupuncture to deal with the nerve pain. Cupping was also effective in restoring blood flow.

Gareth’s wife Anna, also came along for help with her acute lower back pain, which was quickly resolve

Gareth’s story

Rita was highly recommended to me by Tom Astley who was performing physio on a neck/arm injury. I asked Tom for the best and most highly recommended practitioner of Acupuncture he knew and Rita was top of his list.

I had C6/C7 displaced/bulging disc in my neck that was causing referred pain down my left arm. The treatments made a huge difference. I’ve lost 90% of the discomfort in my neck and arm and gained back 90% of the use of both neck/arm.

My wife Anna had two sessions and experienced almost instant relief from her lower back pain.

Rita is very friendly, knowledgeable and professional and I continue to recommend her to friends & family.

Gareth Evans

An Acupuncture Convert… Sciatica, Migraine, UTI

Emma initially came to see me for a TuiNa massage as she had had it previously and loved it. Following a consultation and diagnosis, it became clear that she would also benefit from acupuncture as she was suffering from sciatica, migraines and urinary tract inflammation that didn’t seem to respond to any other treatment.

 

The wonderful thing about acupuncture is its versatility; it can treat numerous issues at the same time. Emma was unsure initially but after some reassurance, went ahead, and never looked back.

 

 

Emma’s story:

 

I had a tuina massage for the first time in 2020 and it was amazing. I felt like a different person afterwards. I had, however, been anxious about acupuncture because I was worried, erroneously, about DVT.

 

I’d had migraines for the past five years and, more recently, some form of sciatica. Also something cystitis/UTI like that was very painful.

 

Since starting acupuncture, the sciatica has greatly improved, as has the UTI inflammation. In fact, both seem to have stopped causing me pain. Also, I’ve only had two migraines since I started my treatment, which is great as I usually have two a month.

 

The acupuncture, for sure, has been the most effective. Am a complete convert. Rita is an amazing practitioner and the clinic is lovely. Already recommended her to others!

 

Emma D

Chronic back pain and tennis elbow – Marianne’s story

Marianne had a handful of sessions of western acupuncture for her chronic  back pain a few years before that hadn’t been effective. After suffering from tennis elbow for 18 months as well, she felt that standard western medical approaches were not going to solve her issues as they didn’t look at root causes.

 

She worked at a desk on a computer every day which exacerbated her symptoms. Because her musculoskeletal issues were long standing, she recognised that it would take some time to resolve her chronic pain but she was willing to commit to treatment.

 

Following several initial sessions of acupuncture/electro-acupuncture, TuiNa remedial massage and cupping, Marianne continued to come for maintenance until recently when she moved countries!  Her general health had also improved immeasurably and she feels more in control of her health.

 

Marianne’s story:

 

My treatments have made a huge difference! Rita was also able to relieve acute pain of tennis elbow within one session and the problem was totally resolved in a few months (it took months or maybe even years to appear so I knew it would take a while to get better). It taught me that acupuncture can treat both on the short and long terms. The treatment has shown me that self-care is a constant, not ad hoc.

 

I also had regular Vitamin B, C and D injections.

 

Rita is an amazing practitioner: personable, very friendly, passionate about her work and loves to explain how things work in the body (and I love to know more), highly professional and knowledgeable. She tailors the treatment to each person very precisely and will always focus her session on what my current issues/pain points are. She is also very punctual; a feat no western medicine professional has ever achieved! Her positive and energetic attitude is always appreciated.

 

I also had several sessions of Thai oil massage with Kung. She is simply fantastic. Her massages are softer than a Tuina massage, and yet she works deep enough into the tissue for you to feel completely loose and limp (in a good way!) and utterly relaxed after a session with her.

 

The clinic is great, a cosy, clean and welcoming place in a private surrounding.

 

Marianne, N4

 

Epilepsy & Migraine – Christina’s story

 

Christina had multiple health conditions, but had been suffering from epilepsy and migraines all her life. She would experience an aura, feel detached, become sensitive to light, and this would prompt a migraine.

 

Like many people over lockdown, she was at home on her laptop all day and her neck and shoulders became tight and painful. It was a stressful time, and although medication controlled her symptoms to some extent, the new normal meant her symptoms increased in regularity and intensity.

 

A friend of Christina’s suggested that she try acupuncture as it had been helpful to her.

 

Although apprehensive, Christina was very open to the process. Some people respond very quickly to acupuncture – and Christina was one of them. Even I was amazed at the progress she made from day one.

 

 Christina’s story:

 

Since starting treatment I have seen a noticeable reduction in migraines and I haven’t had any seizures in three months. This is the longest I have ever been seizure free. I have now been able to go back to regular exercise, which is something my seizures had a huge impact on and I missed exercising so much!

 

Acupuncture not only reduced my seizure, it’s also made a difference in the tension I carry.

 

Rita is amazing, so attentive, encouraging and supportive. Each week she shared in my excitement at seeing the treatment having such a profound effect on my epilepsy. I felt very reassured by her – especially at the beginning, as I had never tried acupuncture before and was obviously very anxious about it!

 

Christina, Hornsey

 

Hypothyroidism, Clinical Anxiety, Insomnia and…. Fertility

 

Many patients come to acupuncture with more than one health issue, and as treatment continues, other priorities come to light. Health, as in life, is rarely a linear process and recovery is often a journey that can take a somewhat circuitous route to its destination.

 

Phillippa came to see me a couple of years ago. She’d been diagnosed with hypothyroidism a couple of months before and had started taking Thyroxine to control it. It was the first time she’d ever really been ill and this had a profound effect on her mental as well as physical wellbeing.

 

Despite taking medication, her hormones were all over the place, the anxiety became so severe she had to stop work and the stress meant she carried a lot of tension in her muscles. She also developed insomnia which understandably made everything more challenging.

 

A clinical diagnosis requiring ongoing medication can be difficult to accept, and this then may elicit other distressing symptoms. So using Chinese medicine to complement the Western approach helps to manage not just the initial problem but all the other symptoms around it. This may also lead to a reduction in medication (under medical supervision) which can only be a good thing.

 

After Phillippa’s initial health issues were brought under control, she continued having acupuncture, TuiNa, cupping and moxibustion on a maintenance programme. Once she was fully recovered and back at work, we concentrated on improving her fertility.

 

Phillippa’s story:

 

I came to Rita with a number of health problems that had culminated in severe anxiety. It took everything I had to attend that first consultation, but it was the best thing I ever did. This was the first time I’d experienced clinical anxiety and I was really scared of it.

 

Having acupuncture treatment has made a complete difference. My anxiety has receded, and I am perhaps better than ever before. My thyroid hormone levels (which were a big driver behind fluctuating emotions) have remained in the normal range for nearly a year, with minimal drug intervention. 

 

What can I say about Rita? Whenever I visit, I feel her energy, her care and her genuine love for what she does. She’s become a master of her craft. But it’s everything she does on top of this that really makes her special. She gave me some great advice during my recovery and would always go beyond the call of duty. She became a friend and confidante to me, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

 

My husband and I finally fell pregnant after several years of trying and Poppy was born in May 2020.

 

Phillippa, Crouch End