Acupuncture for Chronic Pain, Fatigue, and Slow Recovery in Seattle
Chronic pain and fatigue often develop gradually. For many people in Seattle, symptoms persist not because something is acutely wrong, but because the body has been under prolonged strain and has not been able to fully recover.
I offer acupuncture in Seattle for people experiencing chronic pain, ongoing fatigue, or slow recovery, especially when symptoms feel stress-mediated, layered, or difficult to resolve despite prior treatment.
Symptoms and patterns I commonly work with
People seek care with me for concerns such as:
Chronic or recurring pain
Muscle tension, joint pain, or body aches
Persistent fatigue or low energy
Slow recovery after illness, injury, or burnout
Pain that fluctuates with stress, sleep, or emotional load
Feeling depleted despite rest or lifestyle changes
Many clients also pursue physical therapy, medication, or other interventions and are looking for additional support that addresses regulation and recovery more systemically.
How chronic stress affects pain and recovery
From a biomedical and systems-based perspective, chronic pain and fatigue are often influenced by nervous system state.
When the body is exposed to prolonged stress, inflammation, illness, or overexertion, stress response systems may remain activated beyond their intended window. Muscles can stay tense, pain signaling can become amplified, and recovery processes can slow. Over time, the body may lose access to a sense of baseline safety that supports healing.
Rather than viewing pain or fatigue as isolated failures, this perspective looks at how prolonged stress alters regulation across interconnected systems, affecting recovery capacity as a whole.
East Asian medicine perspective
In East Asian medicine, chronic pain and fatigue are often understood as patterns involving stagnation, depletion, or impaired circulation over time. Systems associated with movement and flow (often described as Liver function), nourishment and energy production (Spleen and Stomach), and recovery and storage (Kidney) may become strained when the body has been adapting to stress for too long.
From this framework, pain may reflect impaired circulation or containment, while fatigue can signal insufficient capacity to restore after exertion. Treatment focuses not only on the site of pain, but on supporting the body’s ability to circulate, repair, and recover more effectively.
My clinical approach
I use acupuncture and East Asian medicine to support pain relief, energy restoration, and recovery by working with both local symptoms and underlying systemic patterns.
Rather than pushing the body to change quickly, my approach emphasizes regulation and pacing. This is particularly important for people whose systems have been dealing with stress, illness, or overload for extended periods.
My role is often time-limited and adjunctive. Many people work with me more intensively for several weeks to stabilize symptoms and improve recovery capacity, then transition to occasional sessions as needed.
This approach is especially helpful for people who:
Feel stuck in cycles of pain and exhaustion
Notice symptoms worsen with stress or overexertion
Experience pain alongside fatigue, sleep disruption, or emotional strain
Are recovering from illness, injury, or prolonged burnout
I frequently work alongside other forms of care, including primary care, physical therapy, and mental health support.
What sessions are like
Sessions take place in a quiet clinical setting in Ballard, Seattle. Treatments are steady and non-overstimulating, with attention to how the nervous system is responding rather than forcing outcomes.
Over time, people often report changes not only in pain levels, but also in energy, sleep quality, and overall tolerance for daily life.
Is this a good fit?
Acupuncture can be a useful support for many chronic pain and fatigue patterns, particularly when stress and nervous system strain are involved. It is not a replacement for medical evaluation, and I refer out when appropriate.
If you are dealing with ongoing pain, exhaustion, or slow recovery and are looking for acupuncture in Seattle that prioritizes regulation and sustainable change, I offer a free consultation to help determine whether working together makes sense.