Bone-setting & die da
Sprains & Falls: Don't Leave It
Black ice on the road in winter, a foot that goes down wrong on the court, a back that catches while lifting. Acute injury is Dr. Kong's main focus, and it is what five years in a Guangzhou emergency department were for.
Why it happens
In the first days an acute sprain swells, feels hot, hurts, and will not move properly. What is appropriate then is nothing like what is appropriate for an old injury. An ankle sprain, a ligament tear and a hairline fracture can look very similar, and being able to walk does not settle it — people walk on fractures.
The die da tradition talks in terms of stagnation: after an injury, local circulation is blocked, and the approach is to move it. As Dr. Kong puts it, the longer it sits, the harder the work afterwards. That is traditional language, not a modern description of how tissue heals.
How we assess it
He asks how it happened: the mechanism, whether you heard anything, whether you can bear weight, how fast it swelled. Then he checks movement, where it is tender and the tissue around it. If he suspects a fracture or a complete ligament tear he sends you for imaging and does not treat first.
What may be worth considering
Where it is appropriate: hands-on work, an external herbal application, and advice on support. Acupuncture and moxibustion may follow as it settles. The acute phase and the recovery phase are handled differently, and he will explain the stages.
In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. Obvious deformity, complete inability to bear weight, severe tenderness over bone, numbness or a white or blue-tinged limb, or confusion after a head injury — call 911 or go to emergency. Do not come to the clinic first.
In their own words
YouTube · VideosFall or Ankle Sprain? Don't Delay AssessmentXie Yuan (Ivan) Kong · 0:22 · Transcript Common questions
I twisted it today — can I come in?
Yes, and sooner is better. For acute injuries you can call Dr. Kong's mobile directly on 604-306-5343 and let him decide whether to come here or go to emergency.
I can still walk — doesn't that rule out a fracture?
No. People do walk on fractures. If it swelled fast, if pressing on the bone is very painful, or if you heard something at the time, get imaging first.
Does a car accident count?
Yes. There is a separate page for neck and back after a crash — ICBC pre-approves acupuncture for anyone with an active claim.
Call and describe it. The practitioner will say whether to come in, or suggest you get other checks first. The call is free.