Poke Acupuncture

05/05/2026

YOUR ARM IS NOT “ASLEEP”… YOUR NERVE IS BEING COMPRESSED WHILE YOU SLEEP

If you wake up in the middle of the night and your arm feels numb, heavy, or completely “dead,” it might seem like a circulation problem. But in most cases, that’s not what’s happening.

The real cause is usually nerve compression.

When you sleep in certain positions—especially with your arm under your head or your shoulder rotated forward—you create pressure around the nerves that travel from your neck into your arm. These nerves form what’s called the brachial plexus.
When that pathway is compressed, the signal between your brain and your arm gets disrupted. That’s what creates the numbness, tingling, and “pins and needles” feeling.

That’s also why the sensation disappears quickly when you change position. The moment the pressure is removed, the signal returns.

This is not a blood flow issue.

It’s a temporary nerve signal block caused by sleep position.

13/04/2026

Taiwanese researchers discovered acupuncture triggering stem cell release healing damaged organs naturally. Scientists at China Medical University found that electroacupuncture at specific meridian points stimulates bone marrow to release mesenchymal stem cells into circulation, which then migrate to injured organs and promote tissue repair. This mechanism explains acupuncture's therapeutic effects through measurable biological processes rather than placebo.

09/04/2026

What’s REALLY Causing Your Sciatica? (It’s Not What You Think)

Most people think sciatica is a “leg problem”…
But in many cases, the real issue is coming from your lower back.

👉 Irritated nerves
👉 Disc bulges
👉 Joint stiffness

That’s why:
❌ Rubbing the leg
❌ Stretching the hamstring
❌ Massaging the calf
…often doesn’t fix it.

💡 If you don’t treat the source, it keeps coming back.

If your sciatica isn’t improving, it may be time to look deeper.

📍 We help people across Port Macquarie get to the root of their pain.

08/04/2026

Sciatic pain when sitting, standing or walking? 😣 Get help today and start moving comfortably again 🚶‍♀️✨

29/03/2026

We’re so excited to welcome Lana from YUME Facial Sculpting Massage and Body Massage to the team at Poke Acupuncture! 🎉

Lana will be offering remedial massage as well as Japanese facial sculpting massage.

For more information, check out YUME’s FB page to get in touch with Lana directly.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1b1bHBDzT2/

27/03/2026

✨ What Can You Do About Sciatica?

Sciatica can be really sensitive to certain positions and movements—so small changes can make a big difference! 🧘‍♂️

⚠️ One big tip:
Try to avoid sitting on the couch with your legs stretched out in front of you.

Why? 🔄
This position actually puts the sciatic nerve under tension (it’s similar to how we test for sciatica clinically), which can aggravate your symptoms and slow down recovery.

📩 Instead, aim for positions that feel more supported and comfortable, and avoid anything that triggers your pain.

💬 If you’re struggling with sciatica and not sure what to do next, we’re here to help!

Send us a message today to learn how we can help you find relief and get back to moving comfortably again

25/03/2026

💡 Understanding Sciatica

Sciatica is more than just back pain—it’s a condition where pain starts in your lower back and travels down through your buttocks, thigh, calf, and sometimes even into your foot and toes. 😣

The feeling can vary a lot from person to person:
🔥 Burning sensations
⚡ Sharp, stabbing pain
💤 Numbness or pins & needles
😌 Or even a dull, constant ache

The type and area of pain you feel can give clues about what’s actually causing it!

🔍 What Causes Sciatica?

There isn’t just one cause—sciatica can come from a few different issues, including:

✔️ Disc herniations in the spine (commonly at L5/S1)
✔️ The sciatic nerve being compressed by the piriformis muscle in the hip
✔️ Referred pain from tight “trigger points” in the glutes or lower back

In many cases, it’s not just one thing—it can be a combination, especially if the pain has been around for a while.

👉 That’s why getting a proper assessment is so important before starting any treatment.

05/03/2026

Did you know that Acupuncture can help relieve tingling and numbness in the feet and toes—a condition known as peripheral neuropathy? 👣✨

If you’ve been living with burning, pins and needles, or numbness in your feet, acupuncture can help support better nerve function and improve circulation. 💫

📩 Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help get you back on your feet! 😊

14/02/2026

11/02/2026

Dealing with Sciatic Pain?

I hear this a lot at my clinic from new patients dealing with ongoing sciatic pain 😣

“I’ve been in so much pain with sciatica. After my MRI, I was told to get a cortisone injection. The first one helped a bit. The second one didn’t help at all—and now the pain is back. Is there anything else that can be done?”

It’s incredibly frustrating to go through that—but the good news is there are many ways to treat sciatic pain without relying on cortisone injections 🙌

15/01/2026

💡You Have Shoulder Bursitis—What Can You Do?

Shoulder bursitis can be painful and really limit what you can do with your arm. But the good news? There are steps you can take to help find relief and regain your mobility!

✨ Here’s Three Tips To Help:

- Gentle stretching of pecs (chest muscles) and lats (back & shoulder muscle) can help improve shoulder positioning and pain

- Avoid sleeping on the shoulder. To limit further aggravation of the shoulder bursitis

- Keeping using your arm, but don’t push through painful ranges of motion

Reach out to learn more about how we can help. 💪