Archive for March, 2007

Acupuncture success stories help support the belief that acupuncture works for many people with many differing complaints. Tamworth acupuncture practitioner Maddy Sharp based at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth, Staffordshire has valuable experience in treating conditions that western medicine find difficult.

Maddy has been successful in using acupuncture treatments to relieve many ailments and believes strongly in the power and effectiveness of acupuncture.

Traditional Acupuncture

Originating some 5000 years ago in China, Traditional Acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine and healing. It is based on a system of pathways (meridians) that run through the body carrying an energy or life force known as Qi. The balance and flow of Qi is seen as a vital and integral part of our health and well being. Imbalance in our Qi may present with the symptoms or a general feeling of being unwell. Many things may contribute to this: our life style, diet, stress, ill health and other factors. Acupuncture works to restore balance, enhancing the body’s natural healing mechanism and enabling the patient’s general health and well being to improve.
People of all ages seek treatment to help with a wide variety of complaints:

Acute and chronic pain
Asthma
Digestive disorders
Headache and migraine
Infertility
Menstrual problems
Menopause
Mental and emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety

Problems are not always easy to “label” – for example a student with “exam nerves” may suffer with sickness and diarrhoea, sleeplessness, mental exhaustion and anxiety or a child that is bed wetting may have dietary issues, emotional upset and behavioural problems – Traditional Acupuncture embraces each individual as a unique “whole” person and each treatment is customised to suit their specific needs.

What does treatment involve?

During the first session you will be asked questions about your health, life-style and body systems such as sleep, digestion, circulation etc., your energy levels and well-being. Your blood-pressure will be checked and any medication you are taking noted. A confidential record of this information is kept by the practitioner which enables them to formulate the most effective treatment plan for you and to monitor your progress. Your first experience with needles will also take place—this will involve inserting fine sterile needles into specific acupuncture points on the body. Monitoring your treatment will involve taking regular pulse readings at both wrists.
During subsequent sessions your progress will be discussed and any questions you may have will be answered. Planning and duration of your treatment will be dependant upon individual needs and progress.

How many sessions will I need?

The frequency and length of treatment depends entirely on your individual condition and how long you have been unwell; some change is usually felt after four or five treatments, occasionally only one or two treatments are required, alternatively some patients need to be seen on a long term basis.
Once your health has been restored It is recommended that patients continue to maintain their well being with seasonal treatments, about once every eight to ten weeks.
Does it hurt?
Many people ask “Do the needles hurt?” and indeed many people do not even consider acupuncture because of the needles. As each needle is inserted there is a sensation, some describe a dull ache or a fizz but it lasts only seconds and for those who simply can not tolerate the needles, children for example, alternative treatment techniques are available

Does it work?

One can only be judged on results and we have included a sample of patient testimonials to support the success stories achieved by Tamworth Acupuncture practitioner Maddy Sharp of Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth town centre, Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Visit the website for further information on www.atlaspainrelief.com

Madeleine Sharp
BA (Hons) LicAc MBAcC
Traditional Acupuncture Practitioner Atlas Pain Relief Centre Tamworth

Female aged 36
Presenting condition: Brittle Asthma

My first treatment with Maddy was over three years ago now, I had been diagnosed with Brittle Asthma by my consultant and had suffered several, potentially life threatening, attacks. I was taking the maximum dose of all medication prescribed including steroids which were making me put on vast amounts of weight. I would struggle into the clinic and have to use my inhaler just to enable me to get onto the treatment couch breathless and exhausted.

I understood from Maddy that there was no “quick fix” for my condition but slowly, after weekly treatment for several months my condition certainly did improve along with my general health and state of mind.

I continue to have “top up” treatments once every six weeks or so to maintain my health; I no longer have to take the vast amounts of medication I was on, I lead an active and “normal” life and just use my inhalers very occasionally. I firmly believe that acupuncture turned my life around at a time when my health was deteriorating dramatically.

Male aged 38
Presenting condition: IBS

I knew my diet wasn’t great and the beer and curries at the weekends always made things a lot worse but this irritable bowel thing was beginning to really bug me, my sister was seeing Maddy for her migraines and persuaded me to go along.

I didn’t like the thought of needles at all and some of them certainly give off a “sensation” as Maddy calls it, but I actually began to enjoy the sessions and the acupuncture certainly settled things down, I felt really calm and relaxed after treatment and the IBS was much improved – Maddy encouraged me to look at my diet and life style which has also helped.
I continue to have “seasonal treatments” once every couple of months to keep things in check.

Female aged 39
Presenting condition: Myofascial pain

It was my dentist that first encouraged me to try acupuncture; he diagnosed me as suffering from temporomandibular joint pain after having undergone a year of intensive dental work. My face and ears constantly felt as though they were burning, my ears were ringing, sinuses blocked and my neck and jaw never stopped aching thus affecting my sleep.

After six sessions with Maddy I noticed considerable improvement, not only with the facial pain but with my PMT, travel sickness and a bundle of other things that I’d learnt to live with!

Meanwhile my GP had referred me to a specialist who diagnosed myofascial pain, he explained there was no cure and prescribed Amitriptyline; I don’t like taking medication so decided to persevere with the acupuncture, my last treatment was on the 7th January 2006, I don’t know what you did Maddy, it’s a miracle, I’m absolutely pain free! Long may it last!

Male aged 27
Presenting condition: Frozen Shoulder

My GP diagnosed frozen shoulder after a kick boxing incident, I enjoy the sport but it does have it’s down side; a similar injury a couple of years ago responded well to acupuncture so I thought I’d try it again.

Maddy inserted needles into my shoulder and then burnt a herb called moxa on the end of the needle, she also treated areas on my back, wrists and ankles with needles.

After five sessions the pain and mobility of my shoulder were much better, another two sessions completed the job and I’m now confidently back to my kick boxing.

Male aged 70
Presenting condition: Depression

I lost my wife very suddenly a couple of years ago and just sort of plummeted into a black hole; I couldn’t eat or sleep or see any light at the end of the tunnel, I got so bad I couldn’t face going through the front door. My GP visited me and prescribed anti-depressants and tried to talk me through the “grieving” process.

I can’t really remember how or why I started with acupuncture but very, very slowly I began to “come back” with Maddy’s help; it was a long and gentle process and there were weeks when I felt I was loosing my grip and slipping back into that hole, terrifying. I still have ups and downs, good days and bad, but don’t we all.

I tell my friends that “Maddy saved my life” and they look at me as though I’m mad, they can’t see how acupuncture works at all – well I’m just telling you it does and I don’t know how I’d be now without it.

Female aged 7
Presenting condition: Bed Wetting

I felt that my daughter was beginning to miss out on “friend stop overs” and other activities because of her bed wetting; although she had no problems potty training and moving from nappy into pants in the day time she had never managed to be dry at night, the GP was suggesting referral with possible medication treatment which I didn’t want, a friend suggested acupuncture.

The cost and number of treatments required, Maddy suggested between ten to twenty treatments, did cause concern but I discussed it with my husband and we agreed to try up to twenty treatments.

After the first treatment there was a definite change; my daughter woke during the night, and although a bit wet she managed to make it to the loo and was much less wet the following morning, she has continued to progress well and we have just had treatment number eleven with six dry nights out of seven last week.

Lichfield Acupuncture patients can now see Staffordshire Acupuncture practitioner Maddy Sharp at the Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth

Tamworth Acupuncture practitioner Maddy Sharp is looking to help Lichfield and Tamworth patients with stress and emotional conditions. Maddy specialises in hormonal and fertility work and feels Acupuncture has many benefits over western medicine.

Based at the Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth nr Lichfield in Staffordshire, Maddy is well experienced as an Acupuncture practitioner and has an excellent success rate with many success stories.

Lichfield customers are always welcome and Maddy feels many lichfield people would benefit from making the short journey from Lichfield to Tamworth to see her.

Maddy will be offering free consultations at Tamworth on open days where your questions will be answered on how Acupuncture can help.

Testimonials and advice can be viewed on website www.atlaspainrelief.com

Lichfield Back Pain sufferers now have Tamworth, Staffordshire Osteopaths on their doorstep.

Based in Lower Gungate, Tamworth town centre, Tamworth Osteopath and Physiotherapist John Williams is now expanding the business offering treatment of back pain and spinal conditions for the people of Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Osteopathy is an alternative to chiropractic treatment from chiropractors and this means that Lichfield back pain sufferers now have the option of another back pain specialist in the area. Tamworth and Lichfield are both located in Staffordshire and are a short distance apart.

Lichfield is not far from Tamworth and a 15 minute journey by car to the Atlas Pain Relief Centre will ensure expert advice and treatment from experienced practitioners who specialise in back pain and sciatica.

Parking is easy and they also have disabled parking outside the front door.

More and more Lichfield back pain sufferers are visiting Tamworth to take advantage of what Atlas Pain Relief Centre has to offer.

Testimonials of success stories and details about the clinic can be found by visiting www.atlaspainrelief.com