I was treating a patient for right hand pain.  The primary area of pain was at LI3 and LI4 with swelling and tenderness extending to the 3rd metacarpal.  She was also tender along the LI channel of her forearm and was specifically tender with hard "knots" at and around LI8.  In addition, she had tenderness and hardness at and around ST36 bilaterally.

Here's my question.  Her pulse indicated a very full, forceful and large yangming presentation.  The needling along the LI channel of her right arm definitely slowed and evened the pulse but there was still an extension of sorts into the yangming.  It wasn't until I discovered the tenderness/hardness at ST36 did the pulse immediately soften, even and slow with no evidence of a yangming presentation.

I left the patient to rest with the needles for approximately 30 min.  When I checked the pulse before removing the needles both sides were still even and moderate with no yangming present.

However, once I removed the needles, the yangming returned.  It was not as forceful and large as before the treatment but there was a definite change from when she had the needles to once they were removed.  The patient reported a decrease in pain from 6/10 at the start of the treatment to a 4/10 post treatment.

Anyway, I'm curious as to why the pulse returned to the yangming after the treatment.  Did I not leave the needles in long enough?  Is this an indication of a chronic injury that requires further treatments?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Ann.

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Ann Mowat LAc MAOM