Five Reasons to Get Acupuncture for Low Back Pain          

Back pain is the single leading cause of disability in the United States. Chronic back pain leads to decreased quality of life and missed work and seeking medical treatment for back pain is very common. Typically back pain is fleeting and can be easily resolved with rest, heat and an occasional anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. However, once the damage is done, the recurrence of back pain can be as high as 50 percent. That’s huge!

One treatment that has been found to be effective long-term is acupuncture for low back pain.

Here are five reasons why someone should consider getting acupuncture for low back pain.

1.   Acupuncture has no harmful side effects. 

In comparison to most Western medical approaches to treating low back pain, acupuncture is the clear winner. There are no real negative side effects associated with acupuncture treatments. There rarely can be a bruise or a little tenderness after the treatments, but that pales in comparison to the side effects from most pharmaceutical drugs or surgical procedures. Above all, even regular ingestion of ibuprofen can deteriorate the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, eventually leading to ulceration.

2.   Acupuncture is personalized healthcare. 

One very unique feature of acupuncture is that it is individualized medicine. There could be 10 people with the exact same Western medical diagnosis in an acupuncturist’s’ office, but they may all be treated differently. This is because not everybody’s root cause of the ailment is the same. Therefore, this makes acupuncture treatments very personalized and long-term effective.

3.       Acupuncture reduces inflammation. 

Back pain is frequently accompanied by joint inflammation in the spinal column. Acupuncture promotes the release of vascular and immune-mediating factors that actually decrease inflammation. Usually when inflammation is decreased, so is pain. Therefore, this means the person can get back to doing what they love to do pain-free!

4.       Acupuncture improves sleep. 

Low back pain can frequently disrupt sleep. With regular acupuncture treatments, not only is the pain and inflammation of back pain decreased, but so is the sleep interruptions due to the aforementioned pain. This is just one of the positive side effects of acupuncture.

5.       Get your life back. 

Regular acupuncture treatments can improve a person’s overall well-being.  And when it comes to low back pain, life can be changed dramatically. People sometimes have to miss work due to the pain and lack of sleep caused by the pain. But acupuncture can change all of that, allowing people to resume regular everyday activities.

For anybody who has ongoing low back pain, the five reasons listed above should give you hope acupuncture can provide relief. Let us help you along your path to wellness.

If you suffer from chronic pain, please give our Bothell office a call today, (425) 686-4498 to see how we can help!

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Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Bothell, WA at her practice Starting Point Acupuncture. She is a pain specialist, seeing people who suffer from chronic pain, migraines, as well as digestive issues. Offering pain relief injections, acupuncture, facial rejuvenation, and nutrition consults. Most insurances accepted. Dr. Ellie Heintze is also the author of the book, A Starting Point Guide to Going Gluten-Free on Amazon.