Category Archives: Modesto

Back Pain Acupuncture Treatments in Modesto, CA

acupuncture

Acupuncture for Back Pain, Neck Pain, and Hip Pain

One of my favorite things to do in acupuncture is to treat back pain with acupuncture.  I am an acupuncturist and surgeon practicing in Modesto, CA with my wife, Dr. Tammy Wu who is a board certified plastic surgeon.  My office is inside her office – we practice at the same location.  Her name is on the top of the building.  Our address is 2336 Sylvan Ave. Suite C, Modesto, CA 95355.  For more info besides this blog, you can visit our more formal back pain acupuncture page.

I’m using the term back pain to include the whole posterior chain of the body which includes the neck, the back – upper and lower back pain, and hips  – for example pyriformis syndrome, or pain in the buttock area, and sciatica pain (irritation of the sciatic nerve).

I can’t fix everyone’s back pain, but muscular back pain works best with acupuncture

I’ve noticed that the back pain / neck pain / hip pain that responds best to my style of acupuncture is pain which is mostly related to muscles.  Pain in the back can originate from three main sources: muscular back pain, skeletal/joint related back pain, and nerve related back pain.

However, the results may be different for back pain acupuncture with other practitioners.  I’m just blogging about my own results.

Back pain relief is one of the most effective things I do with acupuncture

I do a lot of different things with acupuncture.  I work on stress, depression, fertility, asthma, allergies, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, smoking cessation – the list goes on, but back pain acupuncture is on top of the list for effective relief of symptoms.

Is the back pain relief temporary with acupuncture?

I get this question often.  Sometimes the back pain / neck pain / hip pain, etc comes back.  But often times, I think it’s because we didn’t get rid of the source of the problem.  Sometimes the back pain is postural or caused by work – some of these things are hard to change.

Does back pain acupuncture hurt?

A few patients say that it doesn’t hurt at all.  But most patients will feel something, but it’s not that uncomfortable that they wouldn’t come back.  There are four forms of acupuncture which I use and if the patient is somewhat uncomfortable, I can eliminate some of the forms of acupuncture and still have a reasonably effective acupuncture treatment for the back pain.  The four forms of acupuncture used to treat back pain in my Modesto practice are:

  • Energetics acupuncture
  • Microsystem acupuncture – using the ear.
  • Local acupuncture
  • Electro acupuncture

Note the electricity doesn’t hurt as much as it sounds.  In fact many patients report that it feels soothing.

hammer for back pain?

Don’t worry, I won’t use a hammer as part of back pain acupuncture.

What to expect after acupuncture for back pain

  • Some feel a better range of motion right after the treatment – as they are walking out the door
  • Some feel nothing at all
  • Some feel soreness the next morning.
  • Many start to feel better 48 hours after the treatment

How many treatments are needed?

For most patients with back pain, I’ve found that patients will usually need 5-10 treatments.  I think most patients do about 8 sessions.  But I usually tell the patients that we have to determine a “cut off” for acupuncture.  Because I have found that I can’t fix everyone’s back pain, I’d like to come up with a way to make sure that we’re not wasting time and resources.  I’ve found that if a patient has tried acupuncture for four times and has not received some partial relief, I’m about 90% sure that additional acupuncture wouldn’t help.

Is there Botox for Back Pain?

YES! there is!  This is available as well at my practice.  Injecting Botox and precise location of shots are very similar to parts of acupuncture.

Do we take insurance for back pain acupuncture?

Unfortunately we do not accept insurances.  Some patients have found methods to bill insurances on their own if they know that they have acupuncture coverage.  We are not involved in that process.  Many have reported receiving about $25 back for their visits for back pain acupuncture.  We know for sure that most insurances do not cover for certain acupuncture treatments such as fertility.

Other back pain and acupuncture resources

dr-wu-and-dr-lee

I hope you will consider Surgical Artistry in Modesto, CA for your back pain treatment.  We’ll use acupuncture techniques and possibly Botox if requested.

 

Microderm For Skin Is Like New Sago Palm Leaves

It’s June here in Modesto, CA.  In my backyard, I have several Sago palm trees which are developing new leaves.  These new leaves are very soft – very much like the new skin that is encouraged to grow via microdermabrasion.  Perhaps the same analogy could be made for old skin before microdermabrasion – it would be like the older leaves on the plant which are somewhat rough and prickly.

Sago Palm New Growth

New growth from our Sago Palm. The new leaves are soft to touch, just like the new skin that is encouraged to grow after microdermabrasion.

Sago Palm New Leaves - opening up even more

This is the same Sago Palm tree as above. The new leaves are almost opened up completely. At this point the new leaves are still very soft and silky to touch.

Below pictures are closer up pictures of the new growth on the sago palm tree.  These pictures are in between the stages of the first and second picture.  The pictures below show how the sago palm leaves uncurl.  It has a scroll like appearance – somewhat like the scroll head of a violin.

a uncurling of alien fingers 2

a uncurling sago 2

Closeup of one of the earliest stages of new palm leaf growth for our Sago Palm in our backyard in Modesto, CA

Closeup of one of the earliest stages of new palm leaf growth for our Sago Palm in our backyard in Modesto, CA

Sago Seed (not really related to Microdermabrasion or Sago Palm new leaves, but nevertheless a nice picture)

Sago Seed (not really related to Microdermabrasion or Sago Palm new leaves, but nevertheless a nice picture)

 

Learn more about microderm in Modesto, CA.

dr-wu-and-dr-lee

Saving Electricity with LED Lights from Costco – Modesto

 

a lightbulbs 2

How many surgeons does it take to…

It might take 6 years to recoup my costs of LED lights

But I think it will be worth it – just for the chance to live greener.

$19.99 for 3 pack. Modesto tax rate 7.625%
This comes out to $21.51 for each pack of 3 LED light bulbs.

I previous had lights that were 45 watts. The new LED ones that I got are now 7.5 watts

Details on the LED light bulbs:

Feit Electric / Conserv Energy LED Dimmable, Mercury Free, 3000K light appearance, lasts 22.8 years. 3 years warrantee. Order No BPCEAG/500/3.  3000K light appearance (on the warm side).

The way I use it, I did some quick math on it. I think it will take me about 3-6 years before I get my return on investment on the purchase from Costco in Modesto, CA.

The package did say that they are anticipating 0.90 cents cost of yearly energy cost per LED light bulb based on 3hrs/day at 11 cents per KWh.

But there are so many other factors when it comes to savings, such as will the light bulb live out 22 years?  Will we move.  Will the next owners use them.  Will they be broken – ie some one breaking them.  Do they use up a lot more resources to make than a regular light bulb?  I’m not sure of these things.

The Design of the LED Light Bulbs here might not be exactly the most efficient for canned lighting.

I think it’s an opportunity me to be kinder to mother earth. I don’t know for sure if it takes more resources to make an LED bulb. But if anyone knows. I’d love to hear. I’m just thinking about the design of the LED bulbs that I got. They’re probably just trying to make the light more diffuse, but unfortunately I don’t need diffuse light – they are up in a can – canned lights, but it’s still more efficient than the regular incandescent bulbs though. I know LED lights are directional – that would be good in a canned light, but there’s probably some sort of diffuser inside these bulbs. I’m just thinking just from the way it’s shaped. Oh well. I bet I could get some sort of flood light shaped with LED technology in it and get the same about of light in the room below with fewer wattage. Costco sold those too, but I didn’t get those. Now I’m started to understand the difference. Some lighting situations need diffuse light and others, directional light is king when using a recessed can light application – and LED is made for directional lighting, except when a diffuser of sorts is stuck in there – absorbing some of the light. But not all lost, because otherwise, I’d have a spot light on the floor.

Well, it would be great if we could retrofit a lot of the bulbs at our Plastic Surgery office with these bulbs.  The rest of the office could benefit from a greener adjustment as well.

 

Here’s a little digression:

Q: How many surgeons does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: “Why don’t you just let us remove the entire socket – you don’t need it, and it’ll just give you trouble later.”

dr-wu-and-dr-lee

 

 

 

Sherman Clay and Steinway fans in Modesto

Performing Masterpieces in the Operating Room

We are proud to have acquired a fine Steinway Piano from Sherman Clay Pianos in Walnut Creek, CA, almost 10 years ago when we moved to Modesto, CA. It was a symbol to us that we had “made it.” Tammy had become a full fledged Plastic Surgeon and for me, a General Surgeon. On Friday, 5/31/13 Sherman Clay, is closing its doors after 142 years of being America’s Finest Piano Dealer. The owners are retiring, and they deserve a standing ovation for all they have done for the piano arts. We wish Justin Levitt the manager of the Sherman Clay store in Walnut Creek a wonderful future with Steinway & Sons. He is a pianist, composer, Carnegie Hall performer, and an ambassador for all things piano.

Both Dr. Wu and I play the piano.

Steinway Piano

Dr. Lee and Dr. Wu’s Steinway Piano

Our Steinway Piano (Model B, 6’11”, 760 lbs) acquired in 2004 from Sherman Clay Pianos in Walnut Creek.  Tammy wanted to purchase the piano to go along with my violin playing.  But I couldn’t resist the urge to play the piano as well, and I’m glad she decided upon this high caliber instrument.    I had learned some piano as a child but had been “fired” by my piano teacher.  In college, I came up with this idea that in order to become a better violinist, I needed to learn piano.  So, I  sneaked in piano lessons with great piano teacher Arlene Cole at Brown University.  I wasn’t nearly anywhere good enough to be one of her regular students, but she allowed me to take lessons with her on the side for one summer. Then of course, medical school took over and I had forgotten about the piano until Tammy brought it up in 2004 as one of her interests and insisted on the best piano we could obtain and fit into our first house.   We have moved 3 times since 2003 and I’ve nearly had heart attacks each time the piano was moved, but it has fared well.

Currently I’ve been teaching myself some piano and here’s some Cosmetic Surgery finger dexterity practicing on Chopin’s Minute Waltz.

dr-wu-and-dr-lee

We believe in performing great masterpieces on stage and in the operating room

Date for Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon 2014

Tentative Date set for the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon

  • This will be the 5th annual Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon
  • The date is tentative.
  • March 23, 2014 – this is a Sunday
  • Check the official date with the official webpage for the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon:  www.modestomarathon.com
  • The first three years the marathon was one Sunday earlier.  In 2013, it was moved to one Sunday later in the year.

Good luck and we hope to see you at the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon.

dr-wu-and-dr-lee

Tammy Wu, MD Plastic Surgeon
Calvin Lee, MD General Surgeon