FAQ

Does acupuncture hurt?

The needles used in acupuncture are very thin (the size of a strand of hair). Some patients are more sensitive to acupuncture needles than others. Sometimes the patient will feel a tiny pinch on the insertion of the needle. After the needle is inserted, there might be a sensation of heat, numbness, achiness, throbbing, nerviness, or nothing at all. These sensations are normal, and mean the treatment is working as it should. If anything is sharp or very unpleasant, I will remove or manipulate the needle right away to ensure my patient is comfortable at all times. If something doesn't feel right, I will fix it immediately. Trigger point dry needling can create a very interesting sensation of involuntary muscle contraction.

How many treatments do I need?

The number of treatments needed varies from patient to patient and is based on the condition, whether its chronic or acute, and the patients constitution. During the initial consultation I will do my best to give an accurate estimate on how many treatments you will need to begin to see improvement. It is important to stick with your personal treatment plan.  

Do you accept insurance?

I am currently a preferred provider for Highmark Federal Insurance (FEP), Independence Blue Cross PPO and Keystone health plan east (individual plans vary, please check your plan before booking to ensure coverage), Independence Administrators (plans vary) and credentialed through the VA. Please email if you have any questions about these insurance providers. Brittany@renewacupuncturecare.com

If your plan does not cover acupuncture, you can use your Health Savings card for payment. If your insurance is out of state and you have acupuncture coverage, I can supply you with a detailed receipt that you can turn into your insurance company for possible reimbursement. 

What to expect at my first treatment?

The first treatment will be about 45 min. After I have made a diagnosis, I will begin inserting the (very fine) needles into different points on your body. Many of the points will be located below the knee and below the elbow, but depending on the complaint some might be inserted into the abdomen, head, or chest.

After the insertion of some points I might ask if you can feel various sensations (such as warm, heaviness, tingling). If any point at any time becomes uncomfortable you can just let me know and we can adjust the needle or take it out. After all the needles are inserted I will lower the lights, turn on soothing music and leave the room for about 20 minutes. During this time some patients fall asleep, others enter a very meditative state, while others work on their breathing technique and just relax. After I return, depending on the complaint, we might treat the back with acupuncture and/or cupping/gua sha. Please wear loose fitting clothing. 

What can acupuncture treat?

  • Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

  • Allergies (food, seasonal)

  • Addiction (Drug, Alcohol, Smoking, Food)

  • Anxiety

  • Biliary colic

  • Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)

  • Dysmenorrhoea

  • Ear pain

  • Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)

  • Facial pain

  • Headache/Migraine

  • Hypertension, essential

  • Hypo-tension, primary

  • Induction of labour

  • Incontinence

  • Knee pain

  • Leukopenia

  • Low back pain

  • Malposition of fetus, correction of

  • Morning sickness

  • Muscle Pain

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Neck pain

  • Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)

  • Periarthritis of shoulder

  • Postoperative pain

  • Renal colic

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Sciatica

  • Sprain

  • Stroke

  • Stress

  • Tennis elbow/Golfer's elbow

  • Abdominal pain (in acute gastroenteritis or due to gastrointestinal spasm)

  • Acne vulgaris

  • Alcohol dependence and detoxification

  • Bell’s palsy

  • Bronchial asthma

  • Cancer pain

  • Cardiac neurosis

  • Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation

  • Cholelithiasis

  • Competition stress syndrome

  • Craniocerebral injury, closed

  • Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent

  • Earache

  • Epidemic haemorrhagic fever

  • Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)

  • Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection

  • Excessive Vaginal Discharge

  • Female infertility

  • Facial spasm

  • Female urethral syndrome

  • Fibromyalgia and fasciitis

  • Gastrokinetic disturbance

  • Gouty arthritis

  • Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpesvirus 3)

  • Hyperlipaemia

  • Hypo-ovarianism

  • Insomnia

  • Labour pain

  • Lactation, deficiency

  • Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic

  • Menopausal Symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, etc)

  • Ménière disease

  • Neuralgia, post-herpetic

  • Neurodermatitis

  • Obesity

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Pain due to endoscopic examination

  • Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)

  • Postoperative convalescence

  • Premenstrual syndrome

  • Prostatitis, chronic

  • Pruritus

  • Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome

  • Raynaud syndrome, primary

  • Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection

  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

  • Retention of urine

  • Schizophrenia

  • Sore throat (including tonsillitis)

  • Spine pain, acute

  • Stiff neck

  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

  • Tietze syndrome

  • TMJ

  • Tobacco dependence

  • Tourette syndrome

  • Ulcerative colitis, chronic

  • Urolithiasis

  • Vascular dementia

  • Whooping cough (pertussis)

Not sure what kind of treatment is right for you?