Acupuncture FAQ

  • CJR Acupuncture is located within Invati Yoga and Wellness at 502-11850 Oceola Road, Lake Country, BC.

  • Post acupuncture you can focus on rest and recovery. If appropriate, gentle movement and stretching can be helpful to integrate the treatment. As treatment plans progress, continued movement and progressive strengthening will reinforce the benefits of acupuncture and manual therapies.

    Post treatment it can be common to feel mild muscular fatigue, achy, sore or tender for a period of a few hours up to 24 hours after treatment. Sometimes people feel energized after acupuncture treatment but often people will feel calm and relaxed. After orthopedic treatments maximum benefits will be realized after a period of recovery. Occasionally there is mild bruising or swelling that can be ameliorated with topical pain products, heat/ice, Epsom salt bath, stretching and self-massage.

    Myofacial treatments such as fire-cupping and gua sha may also leave mild non-painful bruising that typically heals within a few days to a week's time.

  • No, in Canada it is illegal to re-use or sterilize acupuncture needles for re-use. Each needle inserted is sterile and single-use and disposed of in a sharps container immediately after treatment.

  • Often needle insertion is virtually painless, most of the sensory receptors in your body that are responsible for pain signalling are located within layers of the skin so after the needles penetrate past this level there is little to no sensation with manipulation of the needle.

    Different forms of acupuncture can elicit different sensations. With motor-point acupuncture it is common to have a mild achy release upon needle insertion, and/or a fasciculation, or a muscle twitch. With the addition of electrical stimulation at the motor-points the muscle should respond with a gentle continuous non-painful contraction. When needling trigger-points / dry-needling the body responds with a sudden achy release that immediately de-sensitizes the tissue and releases muscular tension. Trigger point acupuncture leaves a residual sore sensation that recovers within a few hours to 24 hours after treatment.

    If painful stimulus is a major concern in treatment, or for very sensitive individuals and children afraid of receiving needles, myofascial work, regulatory acupuncture treatment, acupressure/meridian massage, press-tacks or needless acupuncture can be performed without acupuncture needle insertion.

  • Treatments are not billed by "time" but are scheduled in 60 minute blocks which are reserved for your treatment. Treatments are billed at a flat-rate independent of treatment duration. Treatment times vary between 15-60 minutes on the basis of individual need as assessed on the day of treatment.

  • No, you do not need a referral for Registered Acupuncture services. Some (very few) extended health policies require a referral for insurance purposes, please check with your plan provider for further details.

  • Depending on the nature of your treatment post treatment responses can vary. Ideally with each treatment you have amelioration of your symptoms and relief compounds session to session.

    With sports and orthopedic acupuncture you often will experience pain relief, increase in functional range of motion, strength and proprioception, or “awareness”, of your body.

    With acupuncture for internal health often patients will notice shifts and amelioration of their symptoms as well as autonomic benefits such as improvement in “rest-and-digest” parasympathetic activity including better sleep, digestion, mood and recovery.

  • Please wear loose comfortable clothing. Patients will be draped using massage sheets and positioned as necessary for treatment.

    If you have a preference not undress please wear appropriate clothing for treatment. When treating the lower body please wear or bring shorts. When treating the upper body, including the chest, neck, back and shoulders please wear a tank top with access to the area in need of treatment.

  • Please be sure you have eaten a light meal or snack within the last 1-2 hours ahead of treatment and stay hydrated the day of treatment.

  • Yes, we do offer direct billing services to most extended health providers and insurers.

    In general most policies cover between 70-100% of claims, please contact your insurer for your plans coverage and specific policy details. We also direct bill to ICBC for motor-vehicle accident claims.

    Signing a release of benefit to the clinic and keeping a valid credit card on file is a requirement for direct billing at CJR Acupuncture.