Your First Visit
What to expect and how care usually unfolds
Your first visit is designed to be clear, comfortable, and focused on helping your body move and feel better.
This page explains how to prepare, what happens during your visit, how care is often structured, and what people commonly notice afterward.
Before You Arrive
Intake & Consent Forms
Please complete your intake forms before your appointment.
There are two consent forms that must also be completed before we begin treatment once you enter the office.
Completing these ahead of time allows us to review your information and use your visit for care, not paperwork.
If forms are not completed before arrival, treatment time may be reduced.
What to Wear
Wear comfortable clothing that allows movement.
Helpful tips:
- Athletic or casual clothing works best
- Shorts are helpful for hip, leg, or knee concerns
- A loose shirt or tank top is helpful for neck or shoulder work
- You may wear or bring a change of clothes for treatment
You will remain appropriately covered throughout treatment.
Eating & Hydration
- Eat normally before your visit
- Avoid arriving very hungry or overly full
- Drink water before and after
- Limit caffeine, especially if you are sensitive to it
Arrival & Location
Please arrive about 5-10 minutes early so you have time to settle in.
Clinic Address
4300 S I-10 Service Road West, Suite 208
Metairie, LA 70001
The clinic is located within the 1st Lake Commercial Building.
If you have trouble finding the office, feel free to call or text 504-650-0027
Parking
Ample free parking is available in front of the building.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are located on each floor of the building.
A key is available on the wall within the office if you need to use it.
I will normally ask if you need to use the bathroom before we begin.
What Your First Visit Includes
Your first visit includes both assessment and treatment.
We will:
- Review your main concerns, goals, and medical history
- Assess mobility and strength to isolate your concern
- Perform hands-on treatment based on assessment findings
- Reassessment after treatment
- Supplemental techniques as needed (cupping, manual therapy, herbal treatments)
- Talk through clear next steps after treatment
Care is guided by how your body is functioning, not just where symptoms show up.
How Care Is Structured
Phases of care
Most people move through care in phases. These phases help set expectations and give us a shared map, but care is always adjusted to how your body responds.
Not everyone needs every phase.
Phase 1: Feel Right
Assessment and Calming Symptoms
2 visits per week for the first 1–3 weeks
This stage usually begins with your first visit and is used when symptoms are acute, flaring, or unpredictable.
Focus of this stage:
- Reduce pain, tension, and irritation
- Calm the nervous system
- Break unhelpful compensation patterns
- Improve basic movement and muscle activation
- Assess how your body is adapting and responding to care
Visits are closer together during this stage so we can build momentum and clearly see how your body responds. Early changes may include less pain, easier movement, or improved sleep.
Stage 2: Move Free
Continue to restore & build stability
Visits are typically spaced out, often weekly
This stage begins once symptoms are more stable and flare-ups are less intense or less frequent.
Focus of this stage:
- Stabilize improvements in movement and strength
- Support healing of injured or overloaded tissues
- Improve control and coordination during movement
- Reduce the frequency and intensity of flare-ups
- Restore confidence and self-autonomy in how your body moves and functions
Visits are spaced out more during this stage as your body becomes more consistent and better able to handle daily activity.
Stage 3: Live Easy
Maintenance or as-needed care
Primary goal: Maintain progress and catch issues early.
We look for:
- Symptoms are stable or predictable
- Flare-ups are smaller and shorter
- Recovery is faster when something comes up
- Body handles stress, travel, or training better
Care in this stage is flexible and based on your needs.
How We Track Progress
Progress is not just based on pain being “on or off.”
Pain often changes in stages. In many cases, the body begins to function better before pain fully goes away. Because of this, something may feel “the same” overall while meaningful changes are happening underneath.
To stay accurate, we track progress using several clear markers, not just one.
What We Look At
We pay attention to:
- Changes in pain or symptoms, including intensity, location, or quality
- Improvements in movement, strength, or muscle tension
- How long results last between visits
- How your body responds during and after treatment
We also use everyday function as real-world metrics:
- Activities: If an activity once caused pain and later does not, that is improvement
- Sleep quality: Better sleep supports daily healing and recovery
- Medication use: Needing less medication, or using it less often, is also a sign of progress
Why This Matters
If we only ask, “Does it still hurt?” we miss important information.
Progress may show up as:
- Pain covering a smaller area
- Discomfort starting later in the day
- Easier movement or strength even if pain is still present
- Faster recovery after activity
- Better sleep or less reliance on medication
These changes help guide care, even if pain has not fully resolved yet.
If something feels “about the same,” it helps to look at what is different, even in small ways. Those details help us decide when to stay the course, adjust treatment, or change phases of care.
You do not need perfect answers. Honest and simple observations are enough.
If you are unsure whether something counts as progress, mention it anyway. We’ll sort through it together.
Acupuncture at Big Easy Acupuncture
Acupuncture sessions are hands-on, anatomy-based, and results-focused.
You can expect:
- A detailed assessment
- Targeted acupuncture based on your response
- Manual therapy, electro-acupuncture, cupping, or gua-sha when needed
- Simple guidance to support progress between visits
Treatments are done while you remain clothed. Shorts and a loose shirt or tank top work best.
First visits last up to 45-60 minutes.
Follow-up visits last 45 minutes.
Some treatments will be very active and some will place you in positions for periods of time. You will rest comfortably while the needles are in place for about 10–20 minutes. A call button is always available if you need anything.
After Your Visit
It is possible to notice:
- Mild soreness, bruising, or fatigue in treated areas
- Feeling relaxed or energized
- Changes in movement or symptoms over the next 24 – 48 hours
Sometimes people notice changes in areas we did not treat directly. This is a normal response as the body adjusts.
These effects usually settle within a day or two. Sharing what you notice helps guide future care.
If you have questions after your visit, feel free to reach out.
For severe or concerning symptoms, please seek medical care promptly.
Your Role Between Visits
Between visits, it helps to:
- Notice changes in how your body feels or moves
- Follow simple guidance when given
- Perform the recommended exercises and lifestyle changes
- Avoid pushing through pain when possible but perform comfortable stretching
You do not need to be perfect. Noticing patterns is more important than doing everything right.
Who This Care Is a Good Fit For
This care tends to work best for people who:
- Want to understand what is driving their symptoms
- Are open to hands-on, movement-based treatment
- Value clear communication and honest feedback
- Are willing to notice and share how their body responds
- This approach works especially well for people who want to stay active, independent, and informed about their body.
If you are looking for a quick fix without assessment, this may not be the right fit.
Common First Visit Questions
Do acupuncture needles hurt?
Most people feel very little. You may feel a slight pinch upon insertion but once inserted the needle should feel comfortable.
Will I need ongoing care?
Some people feel better quickly. Others benefit from structured care over time. We decide together based on your response.
What if I feel sore after treatment?
Mild soreness or fatigue can happen and usually settles within a day or two.
Have more questions?
You can visit our full FAQ page or reach out anytime.
→ Read our FAQs
Planning Next Steps
After your first visit, I will share:
- What phase your body appears to be in
- What I am seeing during assessment
- What type of schedule often works best
- What signs tell us it may be time to change phases
You always decide how you want to proceed.
The goal is simple:
Feel Right. Move Free. Live Easy.
Ready to Schedule?
You can book online or reach out if you have questions before your first visit.
📞 Call or Text: 504-650-0027
🌐 Book Online: bigeasyacu.janeapp.com
