Podiatric Acupuncture - General Chiropody - Research - Forensics
Side effects
| Side effects | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Relaxation | After acupuncture almost all patients experience relaxation, which is usually perceived as beneficial. Please bear in mind that the ability to drive a car may be impaired, you are advised to allow someone else to drive. |
| Circulation | Some people react to needle pricks with impaired circulation. To minimise the risk all patients are treated whilst in the lying position. |
| Bruising / medication | Very small bruises can occur at puncture sites occasionally, because of damage to the cutaneous vessels. Further treatment, as a rule is not required. if you take blood-thinning medication, eg: warfarin, please indicate this on the information form. Care is taken to assess the state of your skin, to determine whether you will bruise easily, or not and the situation addressed accordingly. |
| Infection | In principle, any invasive procedure can produce a localised or spreading infection. We minimise this risk by using sterile disposable needles and by carrying out disinfecting procedures. For this reason, please indicate on our questionnaire if you take medication which impairs the immune system or suffer from diabetes, or other chronic disease. After the treatment, if you suspect an infection at a puncture site, please come to see us immediately, or seek medical attention elsewhere. |
| Numbness | Small nerves may very occasionally be damaged, which can result in transient, mild paraesthesiae. |
| Damage | Damage to internal organs can occur in some acupuncture treatments and has been reported in the medical literature. Podiatric acupuncture does not approach any internal organs and our cautious needle technique almost rules out damage to tissues of the foot or leg. |
| Needle damage | Although we use only high quality tested acupuncture needles, in very rare cases they can break off. In such a case steps would have to be taken to remove the rest of the needle. |