Back pain is one of the most common complaints that people can experience, particularly lower back pain.
Symptoms often resolve themselves within a week or two but they can last a lot longer than that in some cases or they can come back, which is when the pain becomes chronic (long term).
Back pain can be the result of an injury (such as a strained or pulled muscle), or a medical condition like sciatica (trapped nerves), a slipped disk or ankylosing spondylitis (where the spine becomes inflamed).
While back pain is often muscular or spinal, it can sometimes relate to internal organ function such as kidney stones, for example, so it’s important not to overlook even minor aches, as they can be the body’s early signals.
After all, significant health issues often develop from small, accumulated concerns.
There are various ways in which this kind of pain can be treated, including:
- Staying as active as possible and continuing with daily routine as far as is practical
- Taking anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen
- Using hot and/or cold therapy to reduce pain, swelling, joint stiffness and muscle spasms
- Specific exercises and stretches to relieve pain
However, there is another potential avenue for treatment if you’re worried about your back pain and want to get on top of it… and that’s acupuncture.
How can acupuncture help with chronic back pain?
Left unaddressed, back pain can very quickly take its toll on your mental and emotional health and wellbeing, causing stress, depression and anxiety. This, in turn, can amplify the pain that you’re in, making it even harder for you to continue with daily life.
One effective form of treatment that may well be worth pursuing is acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine that involves the use of very fine needles inserted into the body to ensure that its Qi energy is able to flow through channels (known as meridians) unhindered.
The theory is that if this Qi is unable to flow as it should, the body and mind will be compromised, leading to illness and disease.
During your acupuncture session with us, fine needles will be inserted at pressure points in the body to help ease your back pain, including in the backs of the knees, the feet, the lower back, the hands, hips and the stomach.
If you have upper back pain, in contrast, needles would be positioned in points found in the shoulders, neck and head, as well as the upper back itself.
It’s believed that by stimulating these trigger points, the nervous system is stimulated in such a way as to relieve pain, releasing certain chemicals and neurotransmitters, as well as endorphins, to help ease symptoms.
There is good evidence indicating that acupuncture can effectively reduce back pain, with benefits of the practice lasting at least a year.
Furthermore, it’s certainly worth noting that this form of traditional Chinese medicine is non-invasive and safe, with no downtime or recovery period necessary following a session – so you’ll be able to get back to your normal routine immediately.
Given that many healthcare treatments come with associated risks and side-effects, this reduced risk of adverse effects is just one of the many benefits of acupuncture for back pain.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the AcuRestore team today.