May Webinar

Marriage between Acupuncture and Dry Needling

Cynthia Gokavi

MBBS, CAFCI

Dr. Cynthia Gokavi shares her transformative health journey and professional evolution from conventional medicine to the realm of alternative therapies, specifically acupuncture, then dry needling. Beginning with her background as a medical school graduate in 1971, Cynthia recounts her early health challenges, including a torn meniscus and the complications that followed surgery. Her introduction to acupuncture stemmed from a personal quest for relief from chronic pain, inspired by a pivotal article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Gokavi’s training under renowned practitioner Joseph Wong, MD, in Toronto set the foundation for her expertise, leading her to explore various acupuncture styles through extensive coursework.

She delves into the development of her therapeutic techniques, particularly focusing on dry needling and the Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) method, which targets myofascial pain and trigger points. Throughout her narrative, Dr. Gokavi illustrates the profound impact of her treatments through patient anecdotes, including remarkable recoveries from chronic conditions. A compelling case study of a 79-year-old patient with a complex medical history, highlights Dr. Gokavi’s methodical approach to treatment. With symptoms ranging from chronic pain to mobility issues, she applied a strategic combination of acupuncture and dry needling techniques, ultimately achieving significant improvements in the patient’s quality of life.

Dr. Gokavi concludes her presentation by discussing the critical balance of the autonomic nervous system in pain management and the specific frequencies utilized in her treatments. She addresses challenges such as patient compliance and needle phobia, underscoring the necessity of fostering comfort to optimize therapeutic outcomes. This engaging case presentation not only showcases the effectiveness of her integrated methodologies, but also advocates for a broader acceptance of alternative pain management strategies.

Key Points Discussed

Development of Techniques

Dry Needling: Dr. Gokavi highlights her experiences with dry needling, particularly the Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) technique, which focuses on treating myofascial pain and trigger points.
Patient Experiences: She shares anecdotes about patients who benefited from her treatments, including a pianist with a fractured wrist and a fibromyalgia patient who experienced significant relief.

Case Presentation
Dr. Gokavi presents a detailed case of a 79-year-old man with a complex medical history, including multiple surgeries and chronic pain.

Symptoms: The patient experienced pain in various body parts, difficulty walking, and numbness in his legs.
Treatment Approach: Dr. Gokavi utilized a combination of acupuncture and dry needling techniques, focusing on vital alignment, energy points, and addressing trigger points.
Results: After several treatments, the patient showed marked improvement in pain levels, mobility, and overall quality of life.

Treatment Techniques

Acupuncture and Dry Needling: Dr. Gokavi explains the importance of balancing the autonomic nervous system and using energy points to enhance treatment outcomes.
Frequency Use: She discusses the specific frequencies used in treatments (200 Hz for muscle relaxation and 500 Hz for numbing), emphasizing their roles in pain management.
Patient Compliance: Addresses issues with patient compliance and needle phobia, highlighting the importance of patient comfort during treatments.