Does Acupuncture Relieve Back Pain?

It is estimated that up to 84% of adults experience low back pain (LBP) at some point in their lives. Often the pain is a result of lifting leading to muscle strain, acute injury, herniated disc, or underlying health condition affecting spine, muscles, or nerves. Commonly, LBP is one of the top reasons why people seek medical care as well as seeking safe and effective ways to relieve back pain. At Starting Point Acupuncture, LBP is the #1 condition we treat at our office. A common situation is people seek our services after “trying everything else” with little to no long-term relief.

How can acupuncture help relieve back pain?

Studies show that acupuncture works by releasing key anti-inflammatory neurotransmitters in the body that help to reduce local and systemic pain and inflammation. Since acupuncture works on the whole body and the root cause of the pain, most find long-term relief of symptoms when acupuncture treatment is added into the mix.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has published a number of studies that show acupuncture is quite effective at relieving back pain pain management therapy. They have demonstrated that it is effective in treating neck, back, and joint pain in a multitude of studies.

In their examination of treating chronic pain using acupuncture, the NIH concluded that, “Acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.” They found that those undergoing treatment during the study had positive results and subsided pain. According to PracticalPainManagement.com, “A review article found pain relief using acupuncture comes from deactivating the source of pain, modulating endorphin levels.” Even WebMD.com writes that, a “[…] recent review of 22 acupuncture studies showed that it provided short-term relief from chronic back pain.”

This implies that alongside acupuncture treatment, eating well and taking care of your body in other ways such as eating well and exercising regularly can help your LBP.

Pain Relief is Just One Benefit of Acupuncture

For those suffering from long term, chronic pain – only one thing matters: relief. Chronic pain can degrade the quality of a person’s life, and make day to day activity unbearable. Those who suffer from it can lose their ability to work, and often lose the desire to do the things they enjoy.

Effective pain management can absolutely improve a person’s quality of life. While western pain relievers do work, the side effects and risk of addiction make them sub optimal. The job of the acupuncturist is to address chronic pain and offer a non-addictive, non-western pain relief option. Acupuncture is safe, natural and drug-free.

When we consider the ability of acupuncture to decrease the need for opiates and other dangerous painkillers, it’s easy to see how acupuncture not only relieves back pain, but also saves lives.

Suffer from chronic pain? We can help! Contact our office at (425) 686-4498 to schedule your consult today with Dr. Heintze to learn more.

Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Bothell, WA at her practice Starting Point Acupuncture. Our clinic specializes in hard to treat cases such as neuropathy, fibromyalgia, failed back surgery, sciatica, migraines, and infertility. Dr. Ellie Heintze is also the author of the books, A Starting Point Guide to Going Gluten-Free and Keep Calm and  Zen Out, available now on Amazon.

Sources:

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-of-low-back-pain-in-adults?search=back%20pain&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1