An NCCAOM-certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, I founded Fort Collins Acupuncture in November 1999. I am passionate about acupuncture and herbal care, and enjoy using my skills and training to help patients find relief from many different health concerns.
As one of the most respected practitioners in Northern Colorado, I bring a comforting and confident demeanor to the care of each individual that has been noted by his patients through the years. That's me, Scott Blunk, L.Ac. - the best former-cattleman, over-six-foot acupuncturist in Fort Collins. Especially for back related pain, I'm the guy you want to see. Need acupuncture for a spinal issue? I've got your back. Schedule your appointment today. Part of my suggested treament for back pain injuries includes rest. This, I know, is very hard for some people, especially in our uber-active community.
Acupuncture is very effective for back pain. It is recommended by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, the American Pain Society, and the American College of Physicians. Its use triggers the natural release of opioids, chemicals from your brain that lessen pain and promote sleep. But effective treatment does require that you allow the muscles to completely heal before returning to your usual activities. 90% of my back pain acupuncture patients get to the point of feeling much better and then blow it, re-injuring their backs. Don't blow it. Continue to rest until the process is complete. I started Fort Collins Acupuncture in 1999 because (at the time) there were few opportunities outside of Denver for people to receive acupuncture. Over the years, acceptance of the practice has grown, and we have been privileged to serve patients from all over northern Colorado and parts of southern Wyoming.
At Fort Collins Acupuncture our main goal is to provide affordable and effective care. We have a reputation for excellence in understanding our patients’ health concerns, and for our extensive experience treating patients in northern Colorado. Fort Collins Acupuncture helps people with many conditions, including headaches and migraines, shoulder, neck and back pain, sports injuries, pain from auto accidents, colds and flus, asthma, menopausal symptoms, and stress. I'm always happy when patients don't need me, but if there's a little something (or a BIG something) that's not quite right, come see me. I can help. www.fortcollinsacupuncture.com Sometimes an acute injury sort of resolves. You find you can work around it if you sit or stand just right, don't move too fast and skip the bottom cupboards in your kitchen. (Who really needs a bundt pan anyway?)
If this is you, stop reading and make yourself an appointment for acupuncture. Acupuncture for back pain is a powerful tool for acute conditions, but it is also very effective on older injuries. The World Health Organization has stated that "acupuncture is comparable with morphine in its effectiveness against chronic pain, but without the adverse effects of morphine, such as dependency." Really, it's that good. One word of caution. If things get worse before they get better, don't worry. And don't stop coming! Moving your body back through the injury may cause a bit of discomfort as it unravels the problems. Going back through the place of initial injury and then resolving it at its root is what will have you standing and sitting up straight again. You may even be able to finally reach the cake pan! The first question most new patients ask me is, "Do the needles hurt?" No. They really don't.
The second question is almost always, "How many treatments will I need to undergo?" This is an understandable query. Making time in your day and paying for supplemental treatments can add up. The good news is, most people see drastic improvement in 3 to 5 treatments. Some feel much better after 1! If we can't make a dent in your pain in the first 3 sessions, acupuncture isn't going to solve the problem and I won't continue recommending it. I don't suggest people keep coming once a week forever and ever, amen. Acupuncture should resolve acute issues within 2 weeks. So, if your worry about cost and time are the thing keeping you from trying acupuncture, fear not. The pain will stop. Contact us at www.fortcollinsacupuncture.com for an appointment. At Fort Collins Acupuncture, I have been treating patients using acupuncture for 15 years. The number one ailment I see people for is pain management. And the top of that category, the most painful thing people want acupuncture for is back pain. And it's no wonder!
Your back muscles are involved in nearly every movement you make. Typing, walking, turning over in bed, driving (Lord help you if you drive a stick shift), bending, even laughing... when your back hurts all those regular activities can be a misery. Acupuncture really can help. Acupuncture has been scientifically proven effective for many conditions including headaches, migraines, neck and lumbar problems, arthritis, and sports injuries. This New York Times blog reviews a recent meta-analysis of radomized acupuncture studies. Thirty doctors analyzed the raw data from 29 high-quality acupuncture medical studies. The lead author, Dr. Andrew J. Vickers from Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, summarizes the conclusion, “We think there’s firm evidence supporting acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain.” Acupuncture for back pain really does work. Contact us today at www.fortcollinsacupuncture.com. The World Health Organization published a review of acupuncture results from around the world. The results? It works, especially for pain management.
Quoting from the report, titled Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, it says: “Generally speaking, acupuncture treatment is safe if it is performed properly by a well-trained practitioner. Unlike many drugs, it is non-toxic, and adverse reactions are minimal. This is probably one of the chief reasons why acupuncture is so popular in the treatment of chronic pain in many countries. As mentioned previously, acupuncture is comparable with morphine preparations in its effectiveness against chronic pain, but without the adverse effects of morphine, such as dependency. Even if the effect of acupuncture therapy is less potent than that of conventional treatments, acupuncture may still be worth considering because of the toxicity or adverse effects of conventional treatments. For example, there are reports of controlled clinical trials showing that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, although not as potent as corticosteroids. Because, unlike corticosteroids, acupuncture treatment, does not cause serious side-effects, it seems reasonable to use acupuncture for treating this condition, despite the difference in effectiveness.” I couldn't have explained it better myself. Get relief from your chronic pain. Come see me today. I grew up in Fort Collins but went to acupuncture school in San Diego at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. In California, acupuncturists are primary health care providers, trained to serve as gatekeepers. We are the one point of contact for their patients as they navigate the health care system. While regulations in Colorado are very different, my training and knowledge of the whole body have not changed. I am very comfortable serving as a complement to your primary care. Because I can “talk doctor” and understand Western diagnoses, I am happy to coordinate with your physician to best meet your needs.
I believe that acupuncture is an integral part of a modern health care system. It is an excellent therapy for pain management of all types (back, neck, headaches, migraines, injury), for digestive disorders, for stroke rehabilitation, insomnia... the list is long. Why not contact me and see what I can do to help you? One patient, a medical doctor, said this: “I decided to try acupuncture for my chronic headaches. It worked like a charm. Scott was attentive, caring and knowledgeable. He ushered me back to a pain-free existence. I highly recommend him.” -- DV, M.D. Pain-free existence can be yours too. Schedule an appointment today. A 2004 study in the British Medical Journal states, "Acupuncture leads to persisting, clinically relevant benefits for primary care patients with chronic headache, particularly migraine.”
I love it when physicians call my results persisting and clinically relevant! More than that, I love helping people get up from their darkened rooms and venture back into the world. If you are suffering regular debilitating migraines, please schedule an appointment. My double-whammy approach of Chinese herbs with acupuncture for migraines is 80% effective. You can't beat those odds. Acupuncture is often used for pain management or stress reduction, but you probably didn't know that it is a powerful tool for stroke rehabilitation. After a neurological event like a stroke, nerves are often damaged. It can be tough to coordinate muscles. Many people find it difficult to walk, talk, eat and generally get through the day.
700,000 Americans a year suffer strokes and treatment options tend to be limited. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, the goals for post-stroke rehabilitation are to help patients find the best possible long-term outcome. Reversing the effects of the stroke isn't usually attainable, they say. And yet, I have aided patients with tremors or drooping eyelids. I have helped people with difficulty walking, speaking, and talking. In many cases, these ailments were completely resolved for my patients. They walk, talk, eat and drive now without the limitations that previously held them back. Acupuncture works by shunting energy to the spot in the body that is suffering. Traditional Chinese Medicine calls that qi – pronounced chee. Essentially it creates the environment in which the body can heal itself by clearing away blockages. If you or a loved one might benefit from a consultation about acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation, please call me or email me. I can help. |
Scott Blunk, LAc.
An NCCAOM-certified and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, Scott is passionate about acupuncture and herbal care. Categories
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