Acupuncture for Your Aching Back
It seems like everyone, at some point in their lives, will experience some degree of pain in the lower back. For some, it’s just a twinge after lifting something heavy, shoveling snow, hauling wood or doing too much yard work. For others, that twinge turns into chronic pain that can interfere with sleep, standing, sitting, activity, exercise or work, causing them to seek some kind of treatment. If you’ve never had back pain before, your first thought might be to mention it to your doctor. He or she might prescribe ice, rest and a non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drug (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetominophen), or might order an x-ray or MRI, or refer you to a Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Surgeon or Pain Specialist.
That all being said, there are many going through chronic back pain and have turned to acupuncture for a number of reasons:
- Acupuncture is more effective when used as an early treatment for any kind of pain – the longer you wait to get treatment for pain, the more likely it is to become chronic.
- You do not need a specific allopathic diagnosis for your back pain in order to get relief from acupuncture – while you are waiting for a diagnosis to be made, acupuncture can provide pain relief.
- Recent clinical research has shown acupuncture can be more effective in treating back pain than conventional therapies, including surgery.
- The risk of side effects from acupuncture are minimal, especially when compared to the side effects of painkillers, anti-inflammatories, injections and surgery.
- Results can be immediate – I have seen many patients walk out feeling 50-75% better after just one treatment.
- Acupuncture is a great adjunct to just about any other treatment: chiropractic, massage therapy, physical therapy, etc.