PE: Pulse reading: her pulse rate was 76/m, pulse was string (on her right side), chi position was weak on her left side. Tongue was pale, with white-thin coating.

DIAGNOSIS: wind-heat invasion into the Lung and the Liver meridians.

Case Report 5: Knee Pain MCL (The medial collateral ligament) Injury

The patient is a 53-year-old woman who works as a physician’s assistant of cardiology at the VA hospital. The patient had persistent swelling and pain in her right knee off and on for a year and a half. Recently the pain had become worse and she had difficulty bending her right knee and complained that the pain increased at night. 11 years ago she underwent knee surgery. She also received acupuncture a month previously for managing her lower back pain. At the time she made an appointment for surgery, she decided to try acupuncture therapy first for her right knee.

Previous history: The patient previously had ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery in 1994.

Upon TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) physical examination, her right knee became reddish, swollen, pressure and pain at the Sp 9 area, difficulty bending, ligament test was not satisfactory due to her swelling knee. Her tongue had a white and thin coating. Her pulse was strong but slow.

DIAFNOSIS: Qi and blood stagnation

After her three-day (daily) treatments, her right knee pain and swelling had decreased and the mobility of her joints improved. She decided that she had no need for surgery and canceled her appointment.

The interesting thing was that she had an allergic reaction to the topical herb. One week after the initial herbal application, her knee had a rash and there was itching and swelling (see picture). We had to discontinue her topical treatment. (Luckily she did not complain of the topical herb during the first 2-3 days of the treatment). Her knee was still in good shape.

Almost two years after the treatment she does not have any complaints of her right knee.

In early December 2008, a 35-year-old female, who was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, entered Mainland Acupuncture Center.

Initially, she had ear pain, which she thought may be from a possible infection. She ignored the pain, and after approximately two week, she began having problems with facial paralysis. After seeing her local physician, who made the prognosis, she was told she needed treatments for her Bell’s palsy with some anti-virus and Corticosteroids. However, after a few days of treatment, she sought out alternative medicine because of the lack of success she was having with the prescriptions.

At initial TCM physical examination, patient presented the following signs: her eye closure was difficult on her right side, the right side of her forehead wrinkles disappear, she had an asymmetrical smile, and her mouth pulls up and outward (see picture).

The patient displayed no signs of difficulty speaking or eating and drinking. Also, her tongue was slightly pale with a white coating, but she didn’t have any symptoms of excess or reduced salivation. Overall, she was feeling “droopy” and even complained of pain in her ear area, but there was no hearing deficit. Her pulse was weak on her right Chi position, which indicated her lung Qi was weak.

Background: Back in November 2002, the patient unloaded a heavy object (about 100 lbs) and he fell down. That heavy object struck his left leg, causing a fracture. He was immediately sent to the hospital and surgery was implemented. Three screws were implanted in his left leg to stabilize the bone fracture.

Afterwards, a routing surgical operation was given. Pain-killer medicine was prescribed to help him manage pain.Everything looked normal on the exterior of his leg but he felt a lot of pain and it was swollen around the surgical area with a numbing sensation. He had to take medicine to control the pain but the pain was still bothering him. It was quite stressful to him that the hospital could not help him, as surgery was finished and there was nothing else they could do. He needed something else for his post-surgery condition.

Medical History:The patient has a history of hypertension and is currently taking medication for that. He also has allergies, asthma, and sinus problems.

Up Physical Examination: The patient was a 48-year-old horse-raiser. His body was in normal range, his BP was 160/105 mmHg, pulse was string and slippery; his tongue was red with thin white coating, slightly dry.

He walked in with his cane. His leg ((left side) was swollen, red with pressured pain, felt much warmer locally compared to the healthy leg. He did not feel very much sensation in his toes upon contact, especially the big toe.

Diagnosis:
1. Blood Stagnation, dampness.
2. Qi stagnation, yin deficiency.