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Back Pain

I originally came to Oliver for low back pain from a series of car accidents and curiosity. Through the acupuncture and massage my back pain is almost completely gone. I have continued to receive treatments because of the great feelings I have after treatment. The most amazing part for me has been spiritual well being. The treatments have helped me clear my mind and body and have given me a renewed sense of purpose and energy that spills over into all aspects of my life.

 -AT


Foot Pain

When I came to see Oliver the pain in my foot was so bad I had moved from limping to hopping. It had only been getting worse for days, and I was starting to think it was time for an x-ray. Oliver quickly discovered that I had pinched a nerve deep inside the bottom of my foot. He then did some acupuncture. To my amazement, the pain was almost entirely gone - instantly! I'm a very dubious person by nature, but the instant effects I experienced have me convinced. I found Oliver’s approach to be professional and laid back. I was impressed that his initial diagnosis was so on target. I trust Oliver completely.

-FM


Chronic Hip Pain

Oliver has made me a believer. I had endured strong to severe pain in my right leg and hip since October of 2003. Since then the pain had persisted and I have had spinal surgery, physical therapy, Novocain shots to the hip, went to a Chiropractor and had Cortisone shots to my spine. The term that best describes the result of all that time and money was the pain was “almost” tolerable. The longest relief ever achieved from any of the above treatments lasted only 2 to 6 hours.

After my first visit to the Inner Gate, I had total relief from hip and leg pain for two days. The second visit provided relief for one week and the third lasted two weeks. I used to believe that I would have to live with the pain in my hip the rest of my life, but now I see hope that it can be eliminated or at least controlled for months at a time. Thank you for your help. It is hard to express the simple joy of being able to walk without limping around in pain.

-JG


Plantar Fascitis

49 year old balding baby-boomer, overweight and in deep denial of his deteriorating physical skills, struggling to still compete with his teenage sons on the basketball court, damages foot leaping for a rebound. Plantar fascitis, a painful tearing in the arch of your foot, had me hobbled for weeks, until I was desperate enough to try anything… even acupuncture! Wow! At Inner Gate I was treated with massage techniques, painless acupuncture, and a couple of different herbal preparations. My foot showed immediate improvement, I lost twenty pounds, and by the fourth treatment, I was back on the court playing hoops! Still no jump shot, but I’m on my feet and playing again! Excellent personalized care and very professional manner. I plan to have monthly tune-up treatments in order to stay on top of my game, both on and off the court.

-JP


Headaches Be Gone

I was walking around with a headache for over 2 weeks and could hardly move my head without feeling a piercing pain going through my eyeball.

After a combination of acupuncture and massage, I left the office feeling so much "lighter" as though a ton of pressure was released from my head. Coupled with taking some herbal mixture, I couldn't believe that my headache went away the very next day, and I have been headache free since then (bye, bye ibuprofen). I feel like a human being again without the headache.

I was an Acupuncture skeptic before meeting Oliver. On my maiden acupuncture journey, besides being skeptical, I was also very nervous. One of the first thing I said to Oliver was, "Do not hurt me" And he assured me that it would not be painful and, guess what, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I hardly felt any pain. Incredible!

Thank you, Oliver, thank you so much for making my acupuncture experience so positive, and for being a caring and nurturing practitioner.

-PB


Back pain

have had lower back pain off and on for a couple of years. I have tried a series of approaches to alleviating the irritation and muscle tightness, including chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, and yoga. Some of these provided some relief, but the pain and tightness always returned.

I had never had acupuncture before, but was willing to try it, to see if it would help me. By the end of my first session, I was amazed at how loose my back muscles were immediately. They felt loose and comfortable for days. I plan to go back for more sessions.

-LL


Neck & Knee injuries

I have had acupuncture in the past and realized that not everyone was meant to do this type of work. When working with Oliver I was pleasantly surprised with my first treatment. He was precise with his needles and the results were positive. I has a torn ACL from my martial arts class. The muscles were weak atrophied and painful. With the acupuncture I was relieved of my pain, had better range of motion and the leg began to strengthen. Recently, I had a car accident and tore some ligiments in my neck. Oliver was once again able to relieve my pain and allow for greater range of motion.

-MM


Back pain & Fatigue

Oliver has a gentle, soothing demeanor that made me feel comfortable even though it was my first experience with acupuncture. Always willing to patiently provide answers to all my questions, he was very knowledgeable and attentive to my needs. He was responsive to my personalized symptoms, both those spoken and unspoken, I always left feeling well cared for. And within the next day, I had found my energy renewed and freedom from my aches and pains. I will definitely use his services in the future.

-JK


Chronic pain after a Motorcycle Crash

I suffered from chronic neck and shoulder pain for over three years as result of a motorcycle accident. I tried almost every possible treatment to alleviate the pain including cortisone injections, physical therapy (twice), chiropractic, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, and other treatments to numerous to mention. I have been on and off various prescription medicines the last three years including vicodin, percocet, vioxx, muscle relaxers and even the controversial nerve medicine neurontin. Thanks to Inner Gate Acupuncture I am now almost 100% pain free, and except for the occasional Tylenol, I no longer need to take any prescription pain killers. I would definitely recommend Inner Gate Acupuncture for anyone experiencing chronic pain.

-PR


Neck Pain

Neck Finally Releases After just one session with Erik, I felt a significant improvement. I had neck pain and tension for two months, and nothing seemed to help. Erik did a thorough analysis and used several different methods of treatment, including acupuncture needles, bodywork, and cupping (gentle suction). He also applied a mild electrical current to some of the needles, which helped convince my neck muscles to let go. Overall, the treatment felt really good. I have already recommended it to others.

-KE


Upper back pain/ stress

What can I say, Eric I. is great. Very professional, knowledgeable, and personable. The care I've received for the stress I hold in my upper back has been fantastic. In addition to the technical work, I've appreciated Eric's interest and willingness, from a professional perspective, to listen to and understand better what, in my opinion, is causing my stress. This effort is consistent with his approach of treating me as an individual and as a whole person, rather than just a person with an injured body. I'd recommend Inner Gate to anyone who is serious about their healing.


Sciatic

Short version: I have nothing but good things to say for Inner Gate and its employees. Long: I'd never tried acupuncture, though my mother said it helped her with the pain of her sciatica. When I finally got to my wits' end I was in constant back and shoulder pain, all out of balance, distressed and miserable. I came on Citysearch to look for Portland's best acupuncturists, having heard a range of stories and deciding to choose for myself and I have to say without exaggeration that's what happened. Polly, their receptionist, is wonderful, and I have never felt as if I received anything less than their full attention. The office is calm, classy but informal and soothing, and each of the treatment rooms is relaxing without seeming artificially 'designed' to be so. Oliver is my acupuncturist and he is truly a great guy. I've never really been embarrassed or hesitant to talk to him about my most personal health concerns. His demeanor encourages an atmosphere of trust, friendliness, and health. I must say I've received better care from him than a significant proportion of 'Western' medicine practitioners I've seen (and I've seen many). He never discourages me from seeking traditional Western care and is professional while still being one of the friendliest and most genuinely caring people I've met. I once ran into him out somewhere and he was just as glad to see me without a treatment or a billing to my insurance. Helping people heal is clearly Inner Gate's top priority. The array of services Inner Gate offers is thorough and (from my experience) expertly practiced. I have not used Erik's services or those of their relatively new massage therapist, but I think any medical practice that presents such a unified atmosphere merits my trust. Try their hand-blended herbal medicines if necessary- they work. Even if or when I leave Portland, I will always come back to Inner Gate whenever the opportunity presents itself. Thank you!


Back Pain

I have been going to Inner Gate for the past year. Each time I visit they always heal whatever it is that I come in for. First time I had chronic back pain that usually lasted for 2 weeks time. One the second day of my symptom I came in to see Erik. The night of my visit it was gone!! I now have my whole family coming in for regular treatments including my 15 year old son. He really likes it looks forward to his visits. I give this clinic my highest rating.


Fibromyalgia

I have been a patient of Erik's almost a year now. I can not explain how he has changed my life. I have fibromyalgia and Erik has been able to ease me off all pain medication through his treatments. He has done what no other Dr. could . He is very knowledgeable, professional. ? He will explain every step of the procedure as he goes through the process, he is extremely open to the patients questions or concerns. Regardless of your needs, Inner Gate acupuncture is the best clinic around. You will feel at home as you walk in, the music, water features and lights put you at ease. Erik and Oliver greet the patients and are very accommodating. Thank you Erik for all the good you do and for taking the time to listen, you are the best. I will send everyone I know to you.


Ankle Pain

After four days of hardly being able to walk, I contacted my medical doctor. She is great and very open to alternative medicine too. She, however, was off on vacation, so I ended up with an unknown doctor. She diagnosed my problem as achilles tendonitis. She said that if it wasn't better in 4-6 weeks, they would put it in boot. Four to six weeks is not an option when every step sent shooting pains up my leg. I had an appointment already scheduled with Erik Isaacman at Inner Gate Acupuncture. He gave me the same diagnosis, but also said there were things he could do. After the very first visit, I was walking out of their offices feeling less than half of the pain with which I entered. By the next day, the pain had subsided to 25% and the third day, it was all but gone. Erik and Oliver are two outstanding practitioners, they know their trade and are able to produce outstanding results. I have recommended them to numerous friends and acquaintances.


Wrist Pain

I was injured about six months ago while working in my yard. I had pain in my wrist, numbness in my forearm and general swelling in my muscles in the arm. The first doctor I saw didn't know what was wrong and referred me to an orthopedic specialist, who diagnosed me with deQuervain's tendonitis in my right wrist. After almost 3 months of treatments that didn't work, which included PT, wrist brace and a cortisone shot, I found out he was completely incorrect! (A belated set of x-rays and MRI showed I had "no damage" or signs of tendonitis in my wrist, even though I continued to have pain and numbness.) I had tried a number of alternative treatments, including a try at acupuncture at another clinic, which wen very badly. Still, I believed from what I had read that acupuncture could help my condition. And, I finally found a doctor that thought I had pinched a nerve in my shoulder resulting in peripheral neuropathy in my arm. She recommended acupunture, too. I found Inner Gate through City Search and immediately set up an appointment with Oliver. Now, after seeing Oliver for several months, my arm is almost completely recovered. I saw immediate changes in my condition after the first visit. My arm has gone from being completely numb in the forearm to completely regaining all sensation. We continue to work on the pain in the arm as the nerves return to full use. Oliver was able to do what months of other therapies couldn't do -- get my arm back to normal. (In fact, by the time I saw Oliver, my other arm was messed up too because it had been compensating for the originally damaged one -- he has fixed it, too.) I am amazed at what acupuncture has been able to do for me; I only wish that I had found this clinic at the onset of my injury because it has been a very trying experience. If you have never experienced the results of acupuncture, it may sound hard to believe, but I am a believer now. Oliver has been great and is worth every penny I've paid.


Auto Injury

When I walked into the clinic, I immediately felt the good energy flow. The staff has great enthusiasm. I had an auto accident in July and I was introduced to EriK . He gave me an excellent treatment, and reduced my pain level quickly. He is also knowledgeable about the body's mechanism from a perspective of natural medicine. He has given me good advise to improve the general health.


Knee Pain

Let me preface this by saying i didn't "believe" in acupuncture before i met oliver. now i have been away from Portland for 4 months. some of the things I miss most: good food, biking, friends, better weather and the guys at inner gate acupuncture. in two weeks i will be back in portland and i can guarantee that i will be back to visit erik and oliver within a week. as a waitress, they are the most accommodating clinic i have ever encountered. they understand that my hours are ever-changing and often unpredictable and are, in turn, flexible with scheduling. they work hard at helping me with current issues (like a busted elbows from a bike accident) while also focusing on long-term concerns. i can already feel pain relief and hope for my ever-present knee joint pain i experience from riding a bike as my sole form of transportation and running around on concrete floors daily as a waitress. i trust both erik and oliver with the most trivial and serious of my health concerns. but i also trust they will refer me to other, more relevant clinics if needed. it is clear they are driven by an investment in my health. before i last left Portland, i had the chance to book my mother for an appointment at inner gate. knowing my mother is as hesitant as i once was to trust in acupuncture, i could do nothing but cross my fingers. she went in doubtful and frowning. after her session, she came out smiling. within a half an hour of leaving the office, she was begging to borrow my phone to call the clinic and inform them that--for the first time in months--she could move her arm more fully and freely. she already has plans to book another appointment with the clinic next time she visits. now, having seen two skeptical people fall in love with a small, quiet, hidden-away acupuncture clinic, i can do nothing but give my highest recommendation. i hope to see you there!


Herniated Disc

I grew up with alternative medicine, including acupuncture. I've lived coast to coast and worked with many gifted and dedicated people. One thing stands out from all those experiences. It's never enough to know the mechanics of a practice, though to do so is a monumental accomplishment of itself. There must also be empathy, an ability to be fully present to the condition of another and sense what has not been said by the patient and "feel" at a deeper more intuitive level who they are and what they need. Oliver is the most empathic professional I've worked with. Combine that with a deep knowledge of his craft and an innate, genuine caring for me as a patient keeps me healing at a rate beyond the expected. I have questions, he and Eric answer them. I have concerns Oliver puts them to rest. I make an observation, it is carefully considered. The office is relaxing, well maintained and professional, but there is levity and joy resulting from people who truly love what they do. I even bring my own music! Surgery? Ha! I don't need no stinking surgery!! Simply put, Oliver and EriK are wonderful people. I am very fortunate. You could be too.


Shoulder/ Knee pain

I have seen Oliver on several occasions for shoulder pain and knee pain associated with sports. I liked working with him each time I needed him - he took a long and involved history, devised a treatment plan that accommodated my work schedule. Oliver made suggestions for strengthening exercises I could do at home to supplement the acupuncture and the combination eventually proved successful. Now I see Oliver several times a year for tuneups and herbs to keep my immunity strong. His office setting is calm and serene, so peaceful even a first timer would be at ease. I tell all my friends about Oliver and recommend him strongly without hesitation.


Auto Injury, Back & Neck Pain

I had never done acupuncture before, so I was a little scared when my chiropractor recommended that I have it done. But, after meeting with Erik, my fears quickly went away. He explained everything to me and went at a pace I was comfortable with. Oliver and Erik really are two of the nicest people around, and I really feel like they care about my health. Not only that, but Ive also seen results. With his treatments I have seen my back and neck heal from my car accident. So if it's your first time and you're a little scared, don't be trust me!


Low Back Pain, Allergies, Weight Loss

I have been seeing Oliver regularly for close to a year now. I have been treated for low back pain, allergies, weight loss, and lately for pain in my feet. I know without a doubt that the treatments I have been receiving have been helpful. I am regularly taking several herbs that have helped me. What I think is amazing about both Ollie and Erik is their level of care and compassion. The time they spend listening and getting to know what is going on with me allowed me to be at ease from my very first treatment. I always felt comfortable talking about what was going on with me, physically, emotionally, spiritually. They are always on time with my appointments, which tells me they value my time as well. The office is clean and soothing. I recommend Inner Gate Acupuncture to anyone who wants an alternative to General Medicine.


Shoulder Pain

Erik Isaacman gives great treatments. I experienced relief from my shoulder pain and from my knee pain. Erik is always warm and welcoming. I felt very comfortable at Inner Gate Acupuncture. I highly recommend this clinic!!!


Back Pain

I started seeing Oliver for intense back pain that had begun to take over my life. After seeing a chiropractor for about six months I was feeling little to no change. Oliver was able to immediately help relieve my pain with a combination of acupuncture and massage. I have had little to no back pain for six months now and I continue to see him as a "primary care" doctor. The most important thing I can stress about Ollie is that he treats the whole person, not just the symptom. He is not only interested in my physical well being, but understands the interaction with my spiritual and mental health as well.


Heart Palpitations

I have been going to Oliver Leonetti at Inner Gate Acupuncture regularly for about 8 months and have had a very positive experience. I went initially to get help with chronic digestion problems and heart palpitations. I had seen several doctors in the past and have gone through all of the standard heart monitoring and imaging tests with no concrete results or answers. This was frustrating to say the least. Working with Oliver on these problems has been wonderful. He is an attentive and thoughtful listener with a caring and comforting approach to healing. Based off of my experiences with other acupuncturists, I feel that Oliver's technique and overall knowledge of medicine and health are excellent. Through a combination of acupuncture, herbal therapy, and diet changes my digestion problems have ceased and my heart palpitations have improved dramatically. I have received successful treatment for sports related injuries such as shin splints as well. I highly recommend Oliver and Inner Gate Acupuncture. In addition to great health care, the environment is pleasant, they are always on time, and payment is convenient and affordable.


Neck & Shoulder Pain

I went and saw Erik Isaacman and he was great. He was able to help me through my neck and shoulder pain. The office is well located, very relaxing and the experience was actually quite pleasant. I was seen on time no waiting. And he did all my insurance billing for me!


Asthma

Both my parents were asthmatics, and I have always had problems, and have had to carry an inhaler around incessantly my whole life -- this is bothersome because I am also pretty athletic, which has always exacerbated the problem. I have been receiving treatment at Inner Gate Acupuncture for the last four months, and I really notice the difference. Erik and Oliver have taken a holistic approach which includes Acupuncture, stress relief, nutritional changes, and breathing exercises - which have been a tremendous help in allowing me to take control of my asthma. I highly recommend them.


Frozen Shoulder

I walked into their clinic with severe shoulder pain (frozen shoulder?) and after working with Inner Gate Acupuncture for 1 month the mobility returned and the pain subsided. They are compassionate, professional and very sensitive to my needs. Different then other acupuncturists that I have seen is the fact that they got in to the sore areas with massage and really worked out the scar tissue and the pain. I have already referred friends and family and I am confident in referring all of you.