As a licensed acupuncturist at NYU Langone Integrative Health, I specialize in trigger point acupuncture, which is used to treat muscle and joint pain. Although its roots are in traditional Chinese acupuncture, trigger point acupuncture is a more modern and American approach to pain management. It uses tiny needles to release muscle tension that can cause pain and stiffness.
I was inspired to pursue a career in acupuncture from my own experience. I have always had lower back pain, but I didn’t know anything could be done about it. I began exploring options when my back pain got worse after moving to New York. Massage, yoga, and stretching helped. But I was surprised by how much acupuncture relieved my pain and how little I knew about it.
Pain can often be a mystery. If you don’t understand the cause, it can be difficult to correct it or keep it from coming back. In addition to providing acupuncture, I try to help my patients understand what kinds of movements or activities may be causing or exacerbating their pain. I love helping my patients find simple solutions. If changing your pillow or your shoes can fix your problem, for example, that’s a great thing.
Whether you work on your feet or at a computer all day, it can take a toll on your body. I treat a lot of neck and lower back pain, because we tend to hold a lot of tension there. It makes me feel good to help people realize there is something they can do for their pain that doesn’t involve medication or surgery.
