TCM Pain Management · Lai Chi Kok
Acupuncture + Bone Setting · Back, Neck & Sciatica · Lai Chi Kok / Cheung Sha Wan
Acupuncture + Bone SettingPain every day, painkillers barely helping — you don't have to accept this
Back pain after sitting too long, waking up with stiff neck and shoulders, leg numbness that stops you walking — you may have accepted 'this is just how it is, just push through'. But enduring chronic pain doesn't just affect quality of life, your body's compensatory movements can injure other areas too. Dr Wong at Aspiratcm specialises in acupuncture combined with bone setting for all types of pain, starting from finding the root cause to help you reclaim a pain-free life.
Why Won't the Pain Go Away? The TCM Perspective
Pain is more than 'just pushing through'
Painkillers temporarily mask the sensation but don't address the source. TCM has a saying: 'Where there is blockage, there is pain; where there is deficiency, there is pain' — pain fundamentally comes from either qi and blood stagnation (blockage type) or qi and blood insufficiency (deficiency type). If you notice that painkillers help briefly but the pain returns when you stop, or that the pain location gradually shifts (e.g., from lower back to knees), your body's compensatory movements may be creating a chain reaction. The sooner the root cause is addressed, the faster recovery becomes.
Common pain types and TCM analysis
Lower back pain: Prolonged sitting, poor posture, and heavy lifting are common causes. TCM differentiates between cold-damp back pain, kidney-deficiency back pain, and blood-stasis back pain, treating each with warming, tonifying, or blood-moving approaches respectively. Neck and shoulder pain: Caused by prolonged phone use and poor computer posture. TCM addresses this through meridian and qi-blood perspectives — acupuncture quickly unblocks cervical and shoulder meridian stagnation, enhanced by bone setting. Sciatica: Caused by lumbar disc herniation compressing nerves, producing radiating leg pain or numbness. Acupuncture reduces the inflammatory response around compressed nerves, while bone setting adjusts lumbar vertebral alignment — combining both treats root and branch. Knee joint pain: From degenerative arthritis, sports injuries, or excess weight. Acupuncture provides local anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, combined with herbs to strengthen liver and kidney, and fortify tendons and bones.
How acupuncture works for pain
Acupuncture regulates local and systemic qi and blood flow through acupoint stimulation. Modern research shows acupuncture can: Promote local blood circulation and accelerate inflammation resolution. Stimulate the body's release of endorphins (natural painkillers) for analgesic effect. Regulate nerve conduction, reducing pain signal transmission. Relax tense muscles and fascia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises acupuncture as effective for multiple pain conditions, including headache, back pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain.
Combining bone setting with acupuncture
Bone setting focuses on correcting skeletal misalignment and joint dysfunction — such as lumbar facet joint disorder or cervical rotation abnormalities. While acupuncture excels at unblocking meridians and reducing inflammation, if the skeletal structure itself is misaligned, acupuncture alone may not fully resolve the problem. Dr Wong excels at combining both: first using acupuncture to relax surrounding muscles and reduce inflammation, then applying bone setting techniques to adjust the structure. Some patients notice significant improvement after just the first treatment.
What happens if pain is left untreated?
Your body's compensatory movements can injure other areas — for example, untreated back pain may lead to knee and shoulder problems.
Long-term painkiller dependence can affect gastrointestinal and liver/kidney function, but stopping medication brings the pain back — a vicious cycle.
Chronic pain impacts sleep, mood, and work performance, potentially leading to anxiety and reduced quality of life over time.
How Aspiratcm Treats Pain
1
Assess pain source and body structure
Dr Wong will thoroughly assess your pain location, nature (distending/stabbing/aching), duration, and aggravating factors. Combined with physical examination and four-method diagnosis, he determines whether the issue is meridian blockage, qi-blood deficiency, or structural.
2
Acupuncture to unblock meridians
Based on the diagnosis, appropriate acupoints are selected for treatment. Each session takes approximately 30-45 minutes, and most patients feel pain reduction after the first treatment.
3
Bone setting to adjust structure
If skeletal misalignment or joint dysfunction is present, Dr Wong applies bone setting techniques. The approach is gentle yet precise, and works best combined with acupuncture.
4
Recovery advice and prevention
Post-treatment posture correction and daily stretching recommendations are provided. Follow-up visits allow ongoing adjustment to reduce pain recurrence. Referral to a physiotherapist for exercise rehabilitation is available if needed.
Life After Treatment
Pain after sitting, unable to concentrate, increasingly dependent on painkillers
After treatment
Sitting comfortably again, enjoying sports and daily activities pain-free
Neck so stiff you can't sleep, pain with every turn
After treatment
Moving freely, sleeping through the night, quality of life greatly improved
Lead Practitioner
Dr Wong Ka-fai
Registered TCM Practitioner (Reg. No.: 009985)
Pain Management, Orthopaedics, Postural Correction
Dr Wong specialises in treating all types of pain with acupuncture combined with bone setting, including lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, and sports injuries. His technique balances strength with precision, and many patients feel noticeable improvement after their first session.
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