Author: Rita

Repetitive strain and musculoskeletal injuries: Carpal Tunnel, Tennis/golfing elbow, neck pain

Much of my work is helping to relieve pain: whether it’s migraine, arthritis or frozen shoulder. But there are a number of injuries predominantly due to overuse: carpal tunnel and lateral and medial epicondylitis (tennis/golfers elbow), are the most common but no less painful.

 

I used to see this mainly in office workers who spend most of their time in front of a computer and use a mouse. Poor posture, neck strain, stress and repetitive movements were often the cause. But now I’m increasingly seeing people who do a lot of yoga (including yoga teachers), or go to the gym. Positions such as downward facing dog put a lot of strain on shoulders and wrists, headstands compress the neck and repetitive lifting of weights can cause elbow pain. Technique and repetition is usually the underlying reason, but the root issue is actually neck position and tension.

 

Tamsin was recommended to come and see me by her Yoga teacher suffering from a long term carpal tunnel issue in both wrists, and more recently, tennis elbow. Although she really enjoyed yoga, it was exacerbating her symptoms.  She also suffered from neck pain. I recommended she paused doing yoga or computer work until we were able to get her symptoms under control.

 

I saw Tamsin twice using electro-acupuncture, tuina massage and fire cupping, and Kung, our Thai oil masseuse treated her too. We concentrated on releasing her neck and reinstituting good movement, and treating her upper back, arms and wrists.  But then we went into lockdown – so sadly had to close the clinic. She recently contacted me to let me know how much better she was.

 

Tamsin’s Story

 

I had been suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome for approximately seven years on and off and more recently tennis elbow. I really wanted to avoid a steroid injection or surgery, as my doctor had suggested.

 

My yoga teacher recommend Rita at Peachy. Rita was very knowledgeable about her subject and she instilled absolute confidence right from the off, and I knew I was in good hands

 

Symptoms for both have all but vanished after two intensive treatments and one massage, all from Peachy therapists. My carpal tunnel used to flare up on a nightly basis, but I have hardly had it at all since visiting Peachy. My symptoms are 95% reduced. 

 

Kung’s massage was incredible: relaxing but also she has this ability to tune into my pain and my tension which alleviated it in perfect tandem with the treatments from Rita. All of the treatments from Peachy have been effective as they all feel very holistic and joined-up in their approach to treating my condition(s). 

 

Thank you so much, you have not only improved conditions which have been giving me extreme discomfort for a number of years, you have shown me that there is a far better, natural approach to resolving  such matters which do not require surgery or injections of drugs. I look forward to continuing my relationship with Peachy on an ongoing, long term preventative approach to my physical health.

 

Tamsin, N8 

COVID 19 HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY AT PEACHY ACUPUNCTURE

We would like to assure our patients that we are taking stringent steps to prevent infections and cross contamination at the clinic.

We therefore request that if you are concerned you may have picked up a cold/fever/cough/loss of taste or smell or are at all unwell,  have travelled from an infectious area in the past two weeks, let us know with as much notice as possible and do not attend the clinic. This is to protect us, and all our patients so we all remain in peachy health.

We have instituted the following health and safety procedures and protocols.

Health and Safety Protocols

Qualification Certificate

 

–All therapists to wash hands with soap before and after treatment, and use hand sanitizer during treatment

-Therapists to wear masks

-Therapists may wear visors if in face to face contact

-Therapists may wear latex gloves for certain treatments (please inform us if you are allergic)

-We request all patients to wash hands with soap before and after treatment. We will also supply hand sanitisers.

-We request all patients to wear masks

-Disinfect clinic, treatment couch, any surfaces between patients

-Sanitise door handles, counter tops and equipment

-Leave 15 minutes between patients so there is no crossover, leaving time to clean between appointments.

-Supply single use paper towels to dry hands

-Supply paper tissues

-Supply plastic/paper/polystyrene cups for filtered drinking water (recyclable if available)

-Supply hand sanitisers in each room

-Weekly deep clean

-Wipe down treatment couches with hospital grade bacterial wipes between patients

-Use single use paper couch roll to completely cover face holes and pillows

-Dispose of paper in appropriate bags

 

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Rita, Andy and Kung

 

Anxiety and IBS. The Terrible Twins

Vicky first came to see me feeling uncharacteristically anxious. As a news editor, she did a stressful job but now she was finding things she would normally take in her stride had become anxiety inducing.  She started worrying about everything. Much of it was related to travelling; for example, whether she’d be able to go to the loo if she was out, but also having meetings with her peers which she had done a hundred times before without incident. She would work herself up to whatever the event was that she was concerned about, until she really felt quite bad. It was rarely how she imagined it, but this is the nature of anxiety and it’s not easy then to talk yourself down. As she was peri-menopausal, I wasn’t surprised by her symptoms and felt I could help her.

 

In addition to this she developed what could be termed as irritable bowel syndrome. She regularly experienced  diarrhoea which only added to her anxiety. 

 

Acupuncture is very effective at calming the mind and helping the gut to process food properly and transport that energy around the body. And with the anxiety in check, life is just much more manageable.  In Chinese medicine, worry and overthinking are linked to same meridian as gut issues, so as acupuncturists we often see them together. The terrible twins…

 

I think it’s always useful to take a fully holistic approach and in this case, that meant Vicky acquiring the tools to deal with the cycle of negative thinking. I therefore advised Vicky to get CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) alongside acupuncture. 

 

Vicky’s story 

I had been suffering from anxiety and stomach problems and a couple of friends had mentioned that acupuncture might help. I had only tried acupuncture once before to induce labour and I was quite sceptical about the whole thing.

 

I have quite a stressful job, probably don’t look after myself as much as I should, drink a bit too much and am also approaching the menopause. I had never really had any mental health problems before and I was worried about how debilitating it was. Feeling anxious was also giving me a bad stomach, I would often have diarrhoea or worried about needing a wee when I was out, and all this seemed to be getting into a cycle where the anxiety was making my stomach worse and then having a bad stomach was making me anxious!! The problems had been building up for at least a couple of months before seeing Rita,

 

Since I’ve been having acupuncture, I feel it has really helped, Rita really put me at my ease and she is so easy to talk to and empathetic I didn’t feel embarrassed telling her about how I was feeling. During my first session she had to take all the needles out after she’d just put them in because I suddenly needed the loo!!  I didn’t even really feel too embarrassed about that as she is such a warm and understanding person. 

 

Both my stomach and my anxiety are much improved, I worry much less about travelling and am having far fewer incidences where my stomach is bad. I actually look forward to acupuncture now and feel much less ragged and calmer after a session.

 

I’m so grateful and happy to have found Rita and she has given me really good advice even outside acupuncture about dealing with my anxiety, and for instance about CBT.

 

I have also already recommended her to a friend who is suffering with insomnia.

 

Back pain, Sciatica and Disc Prolapse

Chronic back pain and Sciatica due to disc issues are frighteningly common. I see patients in a great deal of pain, unable to get comfortable or sleep, in some cases unable to work. Sufferers will sometimes opt for cortisone injections which can work for a limited time, spinal surgery and of course physiotherapy. Many people I see are on high doses of NSAIDS and opioids as other alternatives haven’t worked for them.

 

When Jacquie first came to see me with back pain, pins and needles in her legs and sciatica, she had decided against surgery. She was extremely motivated to keep her weight down, work with a PT to exercise safely and commit to regular treatments of Acupuncture and TuiNa medical massage. This has undoubtedly played a big part in her recovery.

 

She responded very well to electro-acupuncture and TuiNa, coming every week for treatment. Jacquie is now pretty much pain free and her general wellbeing much improved. She was also sleeping badly and this has now been resolved. 

 

Acupuncture is known for reducing pain. In the US there is evidence that it is helping in the fight against opiod addiction. TuiNa is a highly effective remedial massage that complements acupuncture and relieves muscle pain and tension.

 

In addition, Jacqui also sees Kung, Peachy’s Thai oil masseuse, to manage general muscle tightness, improve blood flow and aid relaxation.

 

Jacqui’s story

After suffering severe back pain I was diagnosed with a burst disc and slipped disc in L4/L5 region. I was medically treated with an epidural hydrocortisone treatment. The consultant said I also needed to have physio and non-impact exercise as part of my rehab. After a few months of weight loss and exercise I still had residual pins and needles in my legs, dull ache in my buttocks and lower back, and generally was not sleeping well.

 

The pins and needles have completely gone. I went back to see the consultant who was hugely impressed with my speed of recovery. Since the initial diagnosis I have also been suffering from a taut IT band which has now been resolved through acupuncture

 

The acupuncture has been a godsend in speeding up the recovery process for the back problems I had. Rita is fantastic and the set up is friendly, informal, clean and peaceful.

 

Jacquieline O’Donnell, Highgate

 

 

 

Migraine and Back Pain in Pregnancy

Ella came for treatment when she was 12 weeks pregnant. She had always suffered from severe migraines but they had become more frequent and intense since becoming pregnant. She had chronic neck, back and rib pain and was also experiencing the kind of symptoms usually associated with pregnancy such as gut issues, leg cramps and heartburn.

Ella has a busy job as a nanny, with regularly long hours. Her sleep was affected due to the chronic pain, and she was really struggling to function. The constant pain meant her muscles tightened in response which only increased the pain she was in. It was a vicious circle.

Treating pregnant women while completely safe, does require appropriate training to ensure the points that are used aren’t contraindicated. Consequently there are some limitations on what treatment protocols can be used.

Acupuncture and TuiNa remedial massage were the most appropriate techniques and her migraines almost immediately decreased significantly. Reducing her general emotional and physical tension meant that day to day life became much more manageable.

 

Ella’s story

I have suffered from chronic pain, headaches and migraines for over 15 years and have tried everything under the sun. I needed something to help me as it worsened significantly through pregnancy and I was finding it very difficult to work. I did try acupuncture a few years back in Australia but did not find I had good results. 

I found Peachy on Google and Rita’s response time was great and she fitted me in on short notice.

Rita has treated me for pregnancy symptoms such as indigestion, leg cramps, and constipation. Furthermore I had 15 plus years back pain, neck, headache and migraine.

It’s made such a significant difference!! I had my first consistent relief from migraines ever!  I think Tuina combined with Acupuncture is so beneficial to me as I hold a great deal of tension.

Rita is lovely and warm and the clinic is comfortable and clean and it’s easy to park – I would absolutely recommend her! She is very good and listens well, I have noticed incredible differences in my health and pain.  I am incredibly grateful for all her assistance and her advice.

 

Ella Hayes, Highgate