No one wants to develop an injury at their workplace. Unfortunately, workplace injuries are a very common experience, and many Americans are injured on the job every year. Fortunately, your worker’s comp may pay for you to treat your injury with acupuncture. At 1st Choice Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Bellevue, Washington, we can use this medical treatment to increase your likelihood of quickly returning to your job.
Is Acupuncture Covered Under Worker’s Comp? 7 Things to Know
1. Your Workplace Benefits May Cover Your Treatment
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique that has been performed for about 4,000 years. This technique improves injuries and other health problems by inserting very thin needles into special pressure points on your body. Under some circumstances, your worker’s comp may cover the cost of using this treatment to address a workplace injury.
Treating Lumbar Pain
If you perform physically challenging activities at your job, you might develop lower back pain. For example, it’s common to experience this type of pain if you work in construction. In the state of Washington, your worker’s comp may pay for the cost of using acupuncture to improve your lumbar pain.
Receiving Coverage
You will need to meet certain requirements in order to get worker’s comp to pay for your treatment. In particular, you will need to receive a referral from an attending healthcare provider before you receive your initial acupuncture treatment. You will also need an active claim number.
In addition, you need to understand that you can only receive coverage for treatments that address lumbar pain. This coverage will pay for a maximum of ten acupuncture treatments.
2. It’s a Very Comfortable Treatment
When you hear that acupuncture uses needles to treat injuries, you might feel nervous before you receive your initial treatment. Fortunately, this ancient medical technique is very comfortable, and you shouldn’t feel worried as you prepare to use this method to improve your medical issues.
Using Thin Needles
We will use very thin needles during your acupuncture treatment. You may notice a gentle tingling sensation when we insert these needles into your body. However, you will feel very comfortable and relaxed after we have finished placing the needles into your treatment area. In fact, it’s common to lie back and fall asleep during your treatment.
A Variety of Options
If you are very nervous about this process, we can use specialized needles to help you relax during your appointment. In particular, we offer Japanese Serin needles that have a very small gauge. Alternatively, we can use laser acupuncture to treat your injuries without needles.
3. You’ll Receive an Initial Consultation
Before you get your first acupuncture session, you will have an initial consultation with us.
Examining Your Body
During this meeting, we will examine the injured area of your body. In addition, we will talk about the symptoms that you are experiencing and discuss your general lifestyle. We may also assess the quality and strength of your pulse.
Talking About Your Medications
When you come to our office for the first time, you should be prepared to tell us about all the prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements that you are taking. In particular, we will need to know if you are taking substances like ibuprofen or vitamin E. These blood-thinning medications and supplements can affect your response to acupuncture.
Designing a Treatment Plan
Based on this information, we will determine which type of acupuncture will work for you. It’s common for your initial consultation and treatment to take up to 60 minutes to complete. After this process is complete, your future appointments will last for about 30 minutes.
4. Your Treatments Will Be Quick and Easy
We will perform your acupuncture treatments at our relaxing office in Bellevue.
Inserting Your Needles
You will begin the treatment process by lying down on a padded table. Once you are ready, we will put needles into strategic points on your body. It’s common to receive five to 20 needles during each of your appointments.
Manipulating Your Needles
We may gently move your needles during your appointment. In addition, we might use heat or electrical energy to make your treatment more effective. The needles will need to stay in your body for about ten to 20 minutes. You’ll be able to close your eyes and take a nap or rest during this portion of your medical treatment.
Removing Your Needles
You will continue to feel comfortable when we remove the needles from your body. After we have removed all of your acupuncture needles, you can leave our office and continue with the rest of your day.
5. You Won’t Have Any Downtime
Since acupuncture is very gentle on your body, you shouldn’t need to limit your activities once your appointment is finished. Instead, you should be able to return to your job or other daily activities right away. In fact, it’s common to feel very relaxed and energized after you complete your appointment.
Although this technique is easy on your body, we do not advise scheduling your appointment right before an important meeting, work deadline, family gathering, or other significant events. Allowing significant time for your appointment will help you feel relaxed throughout this process. In addition, you’ll be able to ask us questions during your acupuncture treatment.
6. It’s Very Safe
Acupuncture is a very safe treatment that can address many different types of injuries and medical problems. However, you will need to meet some requirements in order to use this technique to treat your injuries. In particular, you should tell us if you have a pacemaker or other electronic device in your body. These devices will affect the techniques that we will use during your treatment.
In addition, you should tell us if you are pregnant or have a bleeding disorder. These conditions may prevent you from using this treatment or limit the types of acupuncture that you will receive during your appointments.
7. It Can Treat a Variety of Issues
In addition to improving lower back pain, acupuncture can be used to treat many other medical problems and conditions.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a medical condition that can cause your joints to become uncomfortable and stiff. Acupuncture can treat your arthritis by stimulating your nerves, tissues, and muscles. In addition, your acupuncture sessions may reduce your discomfort and tension. Further, your sessions may reduce your symptoms by increasing your endorphin levels.
Many arthritis treatments and procedures have significant drawbacks. For instance, you may be prescribed habit-forming medications or have to receive invasive procedures. In contrast, acupuncture can treat your arthritis in a quick, natural manner.
Menopause
Menopause can cause you to experience many frustrating physical and emotional symptoms. In particular, it’s common to experience hot flashes, headaches, joint pain, and sweating issues during this transitional time in your life. In addition, you might develop memory loss, mood swings, and other emotional problems.
Although hormone replacement therapy may improve some of your negative symptoms, getting this type of therapy will increase your risk of developing cancer and other problems. If you are interested in an alternative way to treat your symptoms, you should consider getting acupuncture. We can use this ancient medical technique to treat your mood issues, hot flashes, and other menopausal symptoms.
Veterans’ Health Issues
If you are a veteran, you will have an increased chance of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and many other types of medical problems. Fortunately, acupuncture can treat a number of health conditions that veterans are likely to experience, including chronic pain, sleeping problems, and arthritis. In addition, we can use acupuncture to treat depression, high blood pressure, and memory issues.
If you are a veteran, your insurance will contribute to the cost of your treatment. For example, veterans’ insurance from TriWest Healthcare Alliance will cover the cost of getting acupuncture at 1st Choice Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine.
Pain Management
Dealing with chronic pain will negatively impact your qualify of life and make it difficult for you to succeed in your career. Your pain can interfere with your ability to sleep through the night. In addition, you might have mobility challenges that prevent you from running errands, cleaning your house, and performing other necessary duties at your job and at home.
Fortunately, acupuncture is very good at addressing musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and lower back pain. In addition, we can use acupuncture to treat acute pain that you haven’t been able to improve by taking medications. Although researchers do not completely understand how this treatment works, they know that acupuncture is a good way to activate your natural opioids.
Fertility Challenges
Acupuncture can be a great way to improve your fertility and carry a pregnancy to term. This medical treatment can address many of the root causes of infertility. In particular, feeling excessive amounts of stress can cause your hormones to become imbalanced. This change may harm your reproductive health. Receiving acupuncture may reduce your stress levels and improve your fertility.
In addition, receiving acupuncture may increase the amount of blood that flows through your reproductive organs. If you are a woman, this additional blood flow may make it easier for your body to carry a baby to term. In addition, your menstrual cycle may become more regular, and you might have a higher chance of becoming pregnant.
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a common problem that affects many people in the United States. This issue prevents people from completing their tasks at their jobs, enjoying time with their friends, and taking part in physical activities. Unfortunately, the treatments and techniques used in conventional medicine are unlikely to successfully treat this syndrome.
In contrast, receiving acupuncture is a very effective way to improve the symptoms that are associated with chronic fatigue. In Chinese medicine, this problem is viewed as a deficiency in Qi. Qi is life force energy that gives you vitality and powers your mind and body. During your acupuncture treatments, we will clear away obstructions from your body’s energy system and improve the flow of energy through your body.
Treat Your Workplace Injury
You shouldn’t let a workplace injury cause you to experience discomfort, mobility problems, and other issues. Receiving acupuncture can be a great way to improve your comfort levels and quickly return to your workplace. In addition, your worker’s comp may cover the cost of your treatment. To learn more about this ancient medical technique, contact us at 1st Choice Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Bellevue, Washington to set up an initial consultation.
