Comprehensive Internal Evaluation (TCM Diagnostic)
For complex, chronic, systemic or internal concerns—or when a broader TCM assessment is needed to understand the patient's overall pattern.
When the place that hurts may not tell the whole story.
Persistent pain is not always straightforward. The location where pain is felt and the patterns contributing to it may not always be the same. This is one reason Zhen-Sheng Gao's approach to complex pain begins with evaluation rather than assumptions about treatment.
With more than five decades of clinical experience, Gao has evaluated thousands of patients with a wide variety of pain presentations. That experience has developed extensive clinical pattern-recognition skills—the ability to notice relationships among symptoms, physical findings and Traditional Chinese Medicine patterns that may not be apparent from the primary complaint alone.
A Broader Look at Persistent Pain
A Complex Pain Evaluation may include, as appropriate:
Years of hands-on clinical experience have given Gao an exceptional ability to recognize subtle tissue changes through examination and palpation—patterns that help guide individualized treatment.
With more than five decades of clinical experience, Gao has evaluated thousands of patients with a wide variety of pain presentations. That experience has developed extensive clinical pattern-recognition skills—the ability to notice relationships among symptoms, physical findings and Traditional Chinese Medicine patterns that may not be apparent from the primary complaint alone.
A Broader Look at Persistent Pain
A Complex Pain Evaluation may include, as appropriate:
- Examination and palpation
- Assessment of areas beyond the immediate location of discomfort
- Observation of movement and physical patterns
- Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment methods
- Review of previous treatment history
- Development of an individualized acupuncture treatment approach
Years of hands-on clinical experience have given Gao an exceptional ability to recognize subtle tissue changes through examination and palpation—patterns that help guide individualized treatment.
When Might a Complex Pain Evaluation Be Appropriate?
This type of evaluation may be worth considering when pain:
Evaluation Upgrade Policy
If internal patterns are identified during a Local Evaluation, your visit will be upgraded to a Comprehensive Internal Evaluation. This ensures accurate assessment and appropriate care.
A Complex Pain Evaluation is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or emergency care. When symptoms warrant medical evaluation outside the scope of acupuncture, patients should consult an appropriate medical professional.
This type of evaluation may be worth considering when pain:
- Has persisted despite previous treatment
- Repeatedly returns
- Appears in more than one area
- Changes location or presentation
- Does not seem straightforward
- Has become a long-standing problem
- Requires a broader assessment before an acupuncture approach can be determined
Evaluation Upgrade Policy
If internal patterns are identified during a Local Evaluation, your visit will be upgraded to a Comprehensive Internal Evaluation. This ensures accurate assessment and appropriate care.
A Complex Pain Evaluation is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or emergency care. When symptoms warrant medical evaluation outside the scope of acupuncture, patients should consult an appropriate medical professional.