After practicing acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for over twenty years now, I’ve treated a lot of people with back pain. I would imagine it’s the most common symptom people seek care for in most non-specialized acupuncture practices across our country.
In my experience, acupuncture is usually helpful for whatever the reason for one’s back pain. For example, this could be related to degenerative changes in an eighty-year-old body, an acute muscle strain in a young athlete, or stress-related back pain.
Of course, some people do not respond to acupuncture, which is a great disappointment for each of us.
Where and How Back Pain Can Appear
When someone comes in for back pain, they usually report lower back pain, though it may be in the mid- or upper back. Pain may be on one side or both sides, and sometimes people feel it only centrally, in the spinal area.
Pain may be worse with sitting or better with sitting. In addition, it may depend on the type of seat.
Similarly, it may feel better with walking or get worse after a five-minute walk. A lot of people struggle to get around the supermarket.
You can usually recognize those with back pain, as they may be pretty attached to their cart and lean forward a bit. Sometimes people can’t get comfortable in bed easily, so their sleep is interrupted.
This is particularly concerning because we need deep, uninterrupted sleep to help the rest of our body function ideally.
Acupuncture Treatment for Back Pain
I tell people who have been in chronic pain that they should see some relief within three to five weekly acupuncture visits. Ideally, we want to see relief after the initial visit, but that isn’t always the case.
Initial relief is often temporary, lasting only hours or a few days. However, there is typically an accumulating effect over further treatment.
Sometimes the pain resolves, and sometimes people manage it well with home care. Often, an acupuncturist places needles locally at the site of pain.
However, when the pain is very acute, the acupuncturist may place needles at a distance, often on the legs and feet rather than on the back. This approach also helps us avoid having someone lie in an uncomfortable position on the table.
Acupuncture as an Option for Back Pain
I’ve seen that acupuncture has become commonly sought out as a first-line treatment for back pain. Again, this treatment is an option for people of all ages and for all causes of back pain.