Headaches & Pain
Acupuncture may feel like a foreign treatment for your pain. To dispel the mystery and help you become more familiarized, we decided to let real people voice their experiences of our work. These are real patients with real lives, from all walks of life for whom The Gilbert Clinic was an answer. We invite you to read their stories.
Frank Schwartz | Linthicum, MD | Software Engineer | 50 something | Patient since 2009
“This is a testimonial to the power of acupuncture. Two years ago I had a pinched nerve in my hip, which was extremely painful. My orthopedic surgeon recommended Neurontin, Percocet, and bed rest for six to eight weeks. My general practice physician recommended acupuncture. Having never had acupuncture, I was a bit skeptical as to whether it would relieve the pain in my hip. At my first visit to the Gilbert Clinic, Jonathan examined my hip and said he could have me good as new in only ten days. At the first treatment I walked in on crutches. Forty-five minutes later I had no pain, and left the office carrying my crutches. I continued with treatments every few days. On the tenth day I was cured. I didn’t require any more medication and returned to work. Since that time, I have seen Jonathan every two weeks and haven’t had a problem in over two years. Acupuncture can cure a multitude of ailments. I highly recommend a consultation with Jonathan. Let what the Chinese have been practicing for 3,000 years cure you.”
Lorraine Schwartz | Linthicum, MD | Age: Senior Citizen | Occupation: Administrator | Patient since 2009
“I have suffered with migraine headaches since my early 20’s. Migraines are debilitating; even after the worst effects have passed, you don’t feel normal for a couple of days. I tried many treatments and medications over the years, and even had acupuncture about 20 years ago with no real results. I can’t tell you how happy I was to have found someone that could help me without drugs. Jonathan has been able to decrease the frequency and severity of the headaches. I feel like I got my life back. Sleep was also a big problem, and I find that I’m getting a more restful sleep which in turn gives me more energy though out the day. I also take Jonathan’s herbs which taste terrible but have aided in my recovery. I have had a thyroid problem for some time and recent blood work showed marked improvement. The only thing I can attribute this to is the acupuncture. Jonathan endorses a healthy life style with balance in your life. I am thoroughly convinced that the acupuncture treatments have assisted in my overall well being.”
Gerard M. Waites | Occupation: Attorney, Lobbyist, Legislative Counsel and Public Policy Consultant | Age: 52
“I am a 52 year-old highly active male who is otherwise in relatively good health and loves to exercise. The problem is that for nearly thirty years I have had a serious, often debilitating, knee problem that has caused intense, prolonged pain and suffering, as well as deep frustration, bouts of depression and thus continuous havoc throughout most of my adult life. As far as traditional medical treatment goes, there has never really been no way to effectively treat this condition, technically referred to as Chondromalacia, but commonly referred to as ‘Runner’s Knee.’
But then I found Dr. Gilbert — who amazingly treated, corrected and cured this condition and did so in a few short, painless visits. I’ve never tried acupuncture before, did not know much about it and was not putting a great deal of faith in it when I decided to try it (I was referred by mother-in-law, who Dr. Gilbert had also successfully treated for another serious, supposedly incurable medical condition.) But after so many years and so much pain, I was desperate after searching for help for decades and never finding any solutions. A lawyer by trade, I’m skeptical by nature and trained to base conclusions on fact, not opinion, theory or wishful thinking. So, my view of Dr. Gilbert’s treatment here is not given lightly. It is based on empirical evidence of major changes in my physical condition as a result of his acupuncture therapy. Read more about Gerald’s runner’s knee story…
Headaches & Pain
Being in pain—including headache—can cast a shadow on every aspect of your life. The simplest activities can become daunting or impossible. Pain interferes with the quality of sleep, which in turn leads to more pain and reduced functioning. Chronic pain also contributes to systemic problems like high blood pressure, and can lead to dependence on pain-relieving medication.
Acupuncture reduces pain, which can enable patients to lessen or eliminate their dependence on pain relieving medications. It is a valuable treatment option on your journey back to health and toward living the life you want.
Acupuncture has been shown in clinical studies to be an effective treatment for many types of pain, including post-operative dental pain, headaches, back pain, and knee pain. It also helps to treat the underlying conditions that cause pain, such as fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Please view our “Acupuncture & Herbology: Effective, Affordable Healthcare” brochure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it help?
Acupuncture has been clinically shown to reduce pain and enable patients to lessen or eliminate their dependence on pain relieving medications. Acupuncture helps by reducing inflammation and stimulating the body’s production of endorphins—its own natural pain-fighters. Acupuncture can also help address underlying conditions that may be contributing to pain and headache, such as tension or injury. Patients being treated for pain report results ranging from long-term, gradual improvement in symptoms to dramatic results in just a few visits.
Will it hurt?
Acupuncture is not at all like getting an injection, having blood drawn, or pricking yourself with a sewing needle. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin; there is a small sensation when they are inserted, but there should be little or no discomfort. Jonathan Gilbert prides himself providing a painless needling technique that he learned during his post graduate studies in Vietnam. The experience of acupuncture varies from person to person and from treatment to treatment, but painful is not a term we hear often from patients describing the experience.
How many visits will I need?
This is a highly individualized treatment, so Mr. Gilbert will set your treatment schedule after your initial consultation. Length of treatment may depend on the kind of pain you are having, how long you have been experiencing the symptoms, and what the cause of the pain is. Some conditions clear up completely in only two or three treatments; others may take ongoing management.