Acupuncture for chronic pain Victoria BC is often something people discover when discomfort has started to affect every part of their lives. At Victoria Healing Space, I combine traditional Chinese medicine with 7 years of personal experience overcoming chronic pain.
Pain changes more than the body. It affects your sleep, your energy, your mood, and sometimes even your relationships. Over time, many people begin to organize their lives around pain.
I understand this deeply. At one point, I had almost accepted that chronic pain would simply be part of my life. Acupuncture changed that. It changed my health, and ultimately it changed the direction of my life.
Today, as a Registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner in Victoria, BC, CCHPBC #102199, I help people living with chronic pain find a path forward through acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and individualized care. My story is here.
Many patients searching for acupuncture for chronic pain in Victoria BC, arrive after months or years of searching.
Some have been told their tests came back normal. Others have received a diagnosis but still haven’t found lasting relief. Yet the pain remains.
Some have tried many different therapeutic modalities. Some have been managing around chronic pain for so long they forgot what it felt like to wake up without it.
I hear this story often. And I understand it not only as a practitioner, but as someone who lived it. That’s why my first priority is to understand your story before developing a treatment plan. Every person experiences pain differently, and every treatment begins with understanding not only where it hurts, but how it started, how it affects your daily life and what may be contributing to it. This information can be helpful to know before your first acupuncture for chronic pain Victoria BC visit.
Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that persists or recurs for longer than three months.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, chronic pain is often understood as stagnation of Qi and Blood. The question is not only where the pain is, but why that stagnation developed in the first place. Different people may experience the same diagnosis for very different reasons. For one person, recurring headaches may be linked to digestive imbalance. For another, persistent pain between the shoulder blades may worsen during periods of stress. My role is to identify the patterns and triggers that may be contributing to your symptoms, so together we can reduce them and support your body’s recovery.
Over the years, I’ve come to see chronic pain as a spiral that often tightens with time. Because movement hurts, you become less active. For some people, reduced activity leads to weight gain and additional strain on the body. Pain increases stress. Sleep becomes less restorative. Muscles become more guarded. Gradually, these changes begin to feed one another, making it harder to find your way out of the cycle.
Together, we look at the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms—including movement, muscle tension, sleep, stress, nutrition, inflammation, and the demands of everyday life. Every person’s experience with chronic pain is different.
I work with the whole body — not just the site of pain.
Chronic pain often involves the nervous system, blood circulation, muscle tension, digestion, and sleep – all at once. This is why the same back pain in two different people may need completely different treatment.
In clinic, I use acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine depending on what your body needs.
I also use heat, cold, stimulation, and rest — whatever your body is asking for in that moment.
Part of my work is learning to read those trigger pain signals together with you.
Here is something many of my patients tell me: “I never thought about it. I just learned to live with it.”
Your body has been speaking to you for years. The tension, the fatigue, the pain that gets worse with stress or cold or poor sleep – these are signals.
Pain that has been present for 3, 5, or 10 years will not resolve in one session. I will not promise that. But I can give you direction. I can help you to reconnect with your body to understand what it needs to change the pattern that can be leading to pain.
That process of relearning to listen that is where healing can begin.
Between sessions, I can provide home care instructions specific acupressure points, meals to avoid or include, gentle movements from Qi Gong or/and simple practices to keep that process moving between appointments.
Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for chronic pain Victoria BC may be used as part of a treatment plan for:
Every acupuncture treatment for pain is tailored to the individual not the diagnosis alone. If you have been living with pain that keeps coming back, I want to understand the pattern behind it. That is where lasting change can begin.
Direct billing available. If your pain is due to a motor vehicle accident, we are the ICBC-approved clinic.
Gift certificates are also available for those who’d like to give acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine care to a loved one.
Depending on your situation, your treatment plan may include acupuncture for pain or Chinese Herbal Medicine, or a combination of both.
Chinese herbal medicine continues to support your body between treatments. One of my teachers often said, “Herbs give wings to recovery.” That idea has stays with me throughout my practice.
Chinese herbal medicine has been used for centuries to help people living with chronic pain. One of its greatest strengths is pattern differentiation.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain is often understood as the result of Qi and Blood stagnation. My role is to understand why that stagnation developed. The treatment principle is to restore the smooth flow of Qi and Blood, but how we achieve that depends on your individual pattern.
For one person, treatment may focus on improving circulation. For another, it may involve relaxing muscle tension, decrease stress, supporting sleep, digestion, or energy. If pain is associated with a Cold pattern, warming herbs may be recommended because people with this pattern often notice that their pain feels better with warmth and worse in cold or damp weather.
Chinese herbal medicine changed the way I understand chronic pain. It taught me to look beyond where it hurts and ask a different question: Why has this pain developed in this particular person? That perspective continues to guide the way I care for my patients today.
If I believe Chinese herbal medicine may benefit you, we’ll discuss whether it’s an appropriate addition to your treatment plan and select a formula based on your individual pattern, symptoms, and health goals.
Learn more about Chinese herbal medicine at Victoria Healing Space.
Pain that has been present for years rarely disappears after one treatment, and I won’t promise that it will.
Acupuncture for chronic pain is different from taking a painkiller. Pain medication is designed to reduce symptoms for a short period of time. Acupuncture usually works more gradually because your body needs time to adapt and respond to treatment.
My own recovery taught me something important: don’t wait only for the pain to disappear. Pay attention to what is changing.
Maybe the pain becomes less intense. Maybe it doesn’t wake you up as often. Maybe you’re taking fewer pain medications than you were a month ago. I remember counting my own pain medication because it helped me see that, little by little, my pain was changing.
I know that waiting can be discouraging. Sometimes the pain changes before it improves. It may become less frequent, last for a shorter time, or feel different. Sometimes sleep improves first. Sometimes energy improves before the pain does. Every person’s experience is different, and results vary.
One thing I often tell my patients is, listen to your body. Your body is constantly giving us information. Those changes help us understand how you’re responding to treatment and whether we need to adjust your treatment plan.
If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can book your Initial Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in Victoria BC online. I look forward to meeting you & supporting you on your recovery journey.
It is never too late. Many of my patients come after years of living with pain. Long-standing pain takes more time to shift, but change is still possible.
Yes. A recent injury and a 10-year pain pattern require different approaches. I assess each person individually and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Most people feel very little. Some notice a mild sensation when the needle is inserted. Many fall asleep during treatment.
It depends on how long you have had the pain. Acute injuries often respond faster. Chronic pain takes more time. I will give you an honest assessment at your first visit.
A large meta-analysis published in the Journal of Pain, involving nearly 21,000 patients, found that acupuncture provided meaningful pain relief for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis — and the benefits persisted for at least a year. Individual results vary.
Generally yes — but always inform your practitioner about any medications, supplements, or health conditions. At your first visit I will review your full health history before beginning treatment.
Please let me know before your appointment. Blood thinners increase the risk of bruising. I will adjust the treatment accordingly — using fewer needles, lighter stimulation, and avoiding certain areas. Always consult your prescribing physician before starting any new therapy.
The most common side effects are mild bruising or temporary soreness at needle sites. Some people feel tired after their first session — this usually passes within a day. Serious complications are rare when treatment is performed by a registered practitioner.
Eat a light meal beforehand — not on an empty stomach. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Bring a list of any medications or supplements you are taking. Plan to rest afterward if possible. Your first visit includes a full health history assessment, so allow extra time. Read more “First Visit What to Expect”.
Pricing varies depending on the type of visit (initial assessment vs. follow-up session) and whether Chinese herbal medicine is included. You can view current pricing and book your visit directly through our online booking system.
Yes, gift certificates are available for acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments — a meaningful gift for someone living with chronic pain. Here is the link to book one.
