Alternative Therapies Case Study on Acupuncture
Scenario
J.B., a 45-year-old woman, is an office manager for a busy law firm and single mother of two children. While cleaning a shower stall, she experienced a sharp pain in her lower back. Over the next few hours, her lower back became increasing more painful. By the time she picked up the children from their sporting event and drove to the nearest walk-in medical clinic, she had a sharp shooting pain into her right buttocks. Her spinal x-rays were not significant, and she was diagnosed with acute musculoskeletal strain, instructed to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and given a prescription for hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg (Lortab) PO q6h pm for severe pain. She was instructed to rest her back for the next 24 hours. Monday morning she called in sick to work because she couldn’t think clearly because of the pain medication. She developed stomach pain, and her back pain was only slightly improved. She called a friend who had experienced a similar episode and related a favorable outcome after being treated with acupuncture. J.B. comes to your alternative medicine clinic for her acupuncture appointment.
1. As you complete her intake interview, she asks “What is acupuncture?” What will you tell her?
Answer: Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction#hed2
2. J.B. wants to know how acupuncture works. How will you explain acupuncture to her?
Answer: Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific sites (acupuncture points) along the body's meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow through the individual. http://www.acupuncture.org.au/Health_Services/Acupuncture.aspx 3. J.B. asks how acupuncture can help her back pain. Explain how acupuncture differs from traditional Western medicine in the
J.B., a 45-year-old woman, is an office manager for a busy law firm and single mother of two children. While cleaning a shower stall, she experienced a sharp pain in her lower back. Over the next few hours, her lower back became increasing more painful. By the time she picked up the children from their sporting event and drove to the nearest walk-in medical clinic, she had a sharp shooting pain into her right buttocks. Her spinal x-rays were not significant, and she was diagnosed with acute musculoskeletal strain, instructed to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and given a prescription for hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg (Lortab) PO q6h pm for severe pain. She was instructed to rest her back for the next 24 hours. Monday morning she called in sick to work because she couldn’t think clearly because of the pain medication. She developed stomach pain, and her back pain was only slightly improved. She called a friend who had experienced a similar episode and related a favorable outcome after being treated with acupuncture. J.B. comes to your alternative medicine clinic for her acupuncture appointment.
1. As you complete her intake interview, she asks “What is acupuncture?” What will you tell her?
Answer: Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction#hed2
2. J.B. wants to know how acupuncture works. How will you explain acupuncture to her?
Answer: Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific sites (acupuncture points) along the body's meridians to clear energy blockages and encourage the normal flow through the individual. http://www.acupuncture.org.au/Health_Services/Acupuncture.aspx 3. J.B. asks how acupuncture can help her back pain. Explain how acupuncture differs from traditional Western medicine in the