Back Pain —​ Treated Effectively With Acupuncture

Back pain is one of the most common problems effectively treated with acupuncture. Back pain — which can occur in the upper, middle, and lower back — can range from being a low distracting ache to pain severe enough to prevent walking, standing, or other movement. Back pain can radiate up into the neck, down the arms, or into the groin, buttock, or legs. Muscle spasms can be severe, and areas can be sore to touch.

Back pain that comes on suddenly and lasts less than six weeks is considered acute, while back pain that lasts more than three months is chronic. Back pain can originate from an injury or can develop gradually.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:

· Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement may strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back may cause painful muscle spasms.

· Bulging or ruptured discs. Discs act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disc can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disc without back pain. Disc disease is often found incidentally when you undergo spine X-rays for some other reason.

· Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.

· Skeletal irregularities. Back pain can occur if your spine curves abnormally. Scoliosis, a condition in which your spine curves to the side, also may lead to back pain, but generally only if the scoliosis is severe.

· Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle."

Holistic medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and yoga, can be helpful for back pain. It is important to have a diagnosis to help prevent injury and for your holistic practitioner to create the best treatment protocol for you. For example, certain types of yoga would not be appropriate for someone with a bulging disc, but specific stretches or relaxation in a restorative yoga could be. Acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal formulas can be more specific depending on the diagnosis. Do know that there is a lot we can do with acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas to help back pain even without a specific diagnosis.

How do Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine help with back pain?

Licensed Acupuncturists utilize tiny needles, often called "points," to press and hold down buttons on your body's personal circuit board. The application of these points will send specific signals to your brain to increase endorphin production, strengthen your internal pain killers and natural anti-inflammatories, and to decrease pain and inflammation. In fact, the derivation of the word endorphin is internal morphine, because the endorphins are produced by the body and go to the pain-reducing receptors. Specific acupuncture points tell the body where to send the body's clean-up crews and endorphins to be able to initiate and speed up the healing process.

For a muscle, tendon, or ligament sprain, there is inflammation or some type of "-itis," such as myositis or tendonitis. Acupuncture reduces and can even eliminate inflammation or "-itis."

For bulging or ruptured discs, acupuncture initiates and speeds up the healing process to help the discs reduce inflammation and heal themselves, sometimes enough for the disc to go back into position.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis "is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions.... Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion." How does acupuncture help arthritis? Acupuncture reduces inflammation in the joints. It can also help to decrease pain so that you can resume appropriate physical activity, which helps with joint activity by resuming circulation and strengthening the muscles around the joint for added support.

Because acupuncture and specific topical and internal Chinese herbal formulas can help to relieve pain and inflammation, they can decrease the usage of over-the-counter and prescribed medications. These medications can have side effects such as stomach ulcers, digestion problems, drug dependency, addiction, and death.

It is always best to come in for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine treatments as soon as possible, so we can start healing your body; if you are just learning about acupuncture or can finally fit it into your schedule, I always say "better late than never!"

The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine treatment protocol will be determined specific to your symptoms and health history. There is only one way to find out how far your body will heal itself, and that is to start coming in for acupuncture treatments.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from back pain, call to see how Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help you.

Dr. Megan Marco, Doctor of Acupuncture, Licensed Acupuncturist, owner and clinic director of Stonington Natural Health Center, enjoys helping people with all health concerns, including pain, stress, fertility, depression, anxiety, and digestion. She looks forward to helping you, your friends, and your family. She has been helping people with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine since 2000 and is here to help you. www.snhc.com 860.536.3880