— Acupuncture · Geneva & Veyrier —
Shoulder, knee or hip pain: tendinitis, arthritis, bursitis
You can no longer sleep on your side, lifting your arm makes you wince, stairs have become a chore, or getting out of the car takes two attempts? Acupuncture, Tui-Na massage and moxibustion can ease this pain and help you get your everyday movements back, alongside care from your doctor or physiotherapist.
✓ RME & ASCA recognised · Covered by some complementary insurers · First appointment within 48h
Shoulder
My shoulder hurts
The three situations I see most often in my practice.
Shoulder pain when lifting my arm
Shoulder tendinitis, rotator cuff, shoulder impingement
It started after a weekend of gardening, getting back into padel, a house move… or for no clear reason. When you raise your arm out to the side, a sharp pain catches you halfway up, at the front or outside of the shoulder, sometimes running down to the middle of the arm. Hanging up washing, reaching for a glass on a high shelf, putting on a jacket: you now do these carefully, or with the other arm.
What you want: to lift your arm without thinking about it, and get back to your sport without the pain returning.
Shoulder pain at night, can’t sleep on my side
Shoulder bursitis, tendinopathy
During the day it’s manageable. But at night, as soon as you roll onto that shoulder, the pain wakes you up. You’ve tried sleeping on your back with a pillow under your arm, and you still wake around 3am. In the morning you’re tired, and the tiredness makes the pain feel even worse.
What you want: a full night’s sleep, in the position you like.
Stiff shoulder, can’t reach behind my back
Frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis
First a dull ache, then, week by week, the shoulder “freezes”. Reaching for your seatbelt, fastening a bra, slipping a hand into your back pocket, doing your hair: the simplest movements become impossible. You may have been told it will “go away on its own, but it can take months”. It often happens between 40 and 60, sometimes after a stressful period.
What you want: less pain during those months, better sleep, and your movement back as soon as possible.
Knee
My knee hurts
The three situations we see most often in the practice.
Knee arthritis: stiff in the morning, swollen after walking
Knee osteoarthritis, cartilage wear
The first steps in the morning are stiff; it takes a few minutes for the knee to loosen up. It creaks, it aches when the weather changes, and after a long walk it swells a little. You choose your outings by distance and avoid going downhill. An X-ray showed arthritis, and someone may have mentioned a knee replacement “later on”.
What you want: to keep walking, travelling and playing with your grandchildren, and keep your knee active for as long as possible.
Knee pain going down stairs
Patellofemoral pain, patellar tendinitis, pain at the front of the knee
The pain is at the front of the knee, around or under the kneecap. It comes on going down stairs, squatting, getting up from a low chair, or after sitting through a film with your knees bent. On a hike, the climb is fine but the descent becomes painful. You hold on to the handrail without even thinking about it.
What you want: to walk down stairs normally, and go hiking in the mountains again without dreading the way down.
Outer knee pain when running
IT band syndrome, iliotibial band, runner’s knee
You start out fine. Then, always at the same point in the run, a pain builds on the outside of the knee until it’s so sharp you have to walk. At rest, nothing. You’ve cut your distances, changed shoes and stretched, yet it comes back every time. Often there’s already a race or trail run in the calendar.
What you want: to run pain-free again and be ready for your next race.
Hip
My hip hurts
The two situations we see most often in the practice.
Outer hip pain at night, lying on my side
Hip bursitis, gluteal tendinopathy, greater trochanteric pain
You can put your finger right on the sore spot: the bone on the side of your hip. You can’t sleep on that side, and often not on the other one either, because the top hip pulls. The pain flares climbing stairs, getting out of the car, crossing your legs or after standing for a long time. It’s very common in women between 40 and 65, and often mistaken for arthritis.
What you want: to sleep on your side again and walk without thinking about it.
Groin pain, struggling to put my socks on
Hip arthritis, hip osteoarthritis
The pain is deep, in the crease of the groin, and sometimes spreads down the thigh or even to the knee. Putting on socks, tying your shoes, getting out of the car or the bath takes more and more tricks. After a long walk you limp a little, and the first steps after sitting are stiff. You’ve been told it’s arthritis of the hip.
What you want: to walk without limping, stay independent day to day, and have less pain while waiting for, or preparing for, possible surgery.
More back or neck pain? Back pain → · Neck and shoulders →
My approach
Acupuncture for tendinitis and arthritis
Studies suggest that acupuncture may reduce pain and improve function in knee osteoarthritis, as well as in some types of shoulder pain. In my practice, I work on the painful joint, on the surrounding muscles that compensate, and on what keeps the pain going: sleep, fatigue and stress. Depending on your needs, several techniques are combined in the same session at no extra cost.
Acupuncture
Fine, sterile, single-use needles placed around the joint and on distant points, to reduce pain and restore range of motion.
Tui-Na massage
A therapeutic massage of the muscles and tendons around the shoulder, knee or hip, with gentle mobilisations to loosen the joint.
Moxibustion & cupping
The gentle warmth of moxa is especially welcome for an arthritic knee or hip that is stiff and sensitive to cold. Cupping relaxes the muscles that compensate around the shoulder and hip.
How it works
Your care, step by step
01
The assessment
A first consultation of 60 to 90 min: the movements that hurt, your sleep, your activity and your goals, as well as any scans and treatments (X-ray, MRI, injections, physiotherapy).
02
The first treatment
You receive a tailored treatment from the very first session, and leave with a few simple tips to protect the joint without immobilising it.
03
Follow-up
Sessions of 50 to 60 min, adjusted as you progress. We review things together, honestly, after a few sessions.
First consultation CHF 145 · Follow-up CHF 120 · Discovery Pack 3 sessions CHF 350. See all prices →
Everyday tips
What can you do before your session?
For the shoulder
At night, a pillow under the painful arm often helps. During the day, keep moving the shoulder gently below the point of pain, rather than holding it still.
For the knee
Cycling and walking on flat ground keep the knee moving without straining it. On stairs, lead with the painful leg going down, holding the handrail.
For the hip
A pillow between your knees at night, avoid crossing your legs or standing with your weight on one hip. Warmth soothes a stiff hip.
Important
When to see a doctor first
Acupuncture complements conventional medicine; it does not replace it. See your doctor promptly if your shoulder, knee or hip pain comes with:
- a recent fall, twist or impact, especially with a crack or visible deformity;
- being unable to put your foot down, bear weight or lift your arm;
- a swollen, warm and painful calf;
- left shoulder pain with chest tightness or shortness of breath;
- pain that does not ease with rest, especially at night, or unexplained weight loss.
In an emergency, call 144.
FAQ
Your questions about tendinitis and arthritis
Does acupuncture work for knee or hip arthritis?
Acupuncture does not repair cartilage, but it can reduce pain and stiffness and so help you stay active, which is essential with arthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is the most studied use. It fits well alongside care from your doctor and physiotherapist.
How long does shoulder tendinitis last?
Anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how long you’ve had it and what caused it. The earlier it’s treated, the faster recovery usually is. Acupuncture can be combined with physiotherapy during this time.
Can you help with a frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder often runs its course over several months. Acupuncture and Tui-Na can help ease the pain, especially at night, and support the mobility work done in physiotherapy.
Hip bursitis or hip arthritis: how can I tell the difference?
Generally, bursitis hurts on the outside of the hip, at a specific spot you can touch, especially when lying on your side. Arthritis tends to hurt in the groin, with stiffness when putting on socks. Only your doctor can make the diagnosis, but both respond well to complementary care.
Should I stop exercising?
Rarely completely. It’s more about adapting: reducing volume or intensity, or switching to less demanding activities for a while. We’ll discuss it at your assessment, together with your doctor if needed.
Can I come after a steroid injection or a joint replacement?
Yes, with an adapted treatment. After an injection, we usually wait a few days. After a knee or hip replacement, acupuncture can support recovery once the wound has healed and with your surgeon’s agreement. Please mention it when you book.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the joint, how long you’ve had the pain and its cause. Recent tendinitis usually needs fewer sessions than long-standing arthritis, for which occasional maintenance sessions can be useful. We review regularly, with no commitment beyond what is useful.
Are sessions covered by insurance?
Treatments are recognised by complementary insurers approved by ASCA and RME, as well as by international insurance providers. Please check your coverage with your insurer. A solidarity rate can also be offered, in complete confidence.
Get your everyday movements back
Sleeping on your side, walking down stairs, lifting your arm, walking without a limp: book your first session online, or call me if you have a question. I will tell you honestly whether I can help.
✓ RME & ASCA recognised · 76 rue de Carouge, Geneva & 97 chemin des Rasses, Veyrier