Can Acupuncture Be Effective For Back Pain?

There are millions of people who suffer from back pain and it very often affects people’s quality of life. Imagine not being able to pick up groceries out of your car or even get out of bed without feeling pain. And while there are medications and surgical options that give many patients hope, prescription medications or surgeries can lead to unwanted side effects and long recovery periods. If you’re looking for a more natural alternative to back pain, acupuncture may be a great solution.

At Acupuncture Works in Pawleys Island, SC, we believe in utilizing Chinese medicine to help patients find relief for their back paint using natural, alternative methods. If you have been struggling with pain, if it’s beginning to have an effect on your quality of life and wellbeing, and if you’re worried about how traditional medicine will impact your body, don’t wait to seek treatment from Acupuncture Works. Our trained and knowledgeable practitioners are dedicated to helping patients feel their best, and we’ll be there to make sure you feel comfortable and safe.

What Causes Back Pain?

In order to understand whether or not acupuncture can help relieve back pain, it’s first important to understand what causes back pain in the first place. When back pain is caused by a fall or heavy lifting, it typically lasts for less than six weeks and is considered acute back pain. Chronic back pain lasts longer than three months and there can be a variety of causes. Some common conditions related to back pain include:

• Muscle or Ligament Strain: When our bodies undergo repeated strain due to heavy lifting or awkward movements, it can cause issues with back muscles and spinal ligaments. Depending on your physical condition, excessive strains could lead to painful muscle spasms.
• Bulging or Ruptured Disks: Nerve pain can be caused when the soft material inside a disk bulges or ruptures and pushes up against the nerve.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can lead to lower back pain, when the arthritis causes the space around the spinal cord to narrow.
• Skeletal Irregularities: Scoliosis, a curve in the spine, can lead to back pain when patients reach middle age.
• Osteoporosis: As bones become porous and brittle, the spine’s vertebrae can develop compression fractures.

What is Acupuncture?

In Chinese medicine, practitioners believe that health is determined by bringing balance to the body, or in balancing our “qi,” pronounced “chee.” Qi, a life force, flows through the body in certain pathways. In acupuncture, very tiny needles are inserted into the skin in order to access these pathways. When placed into specific acupuncture points (there are more than 400 points in the body), which align with these pathways, it will help restore balance and allow energy to flow through the body.

These pathways, or acupuncture points, are located all over the body and are common in areas where nerves, muscles, and connective tissue can be stimulated. When an acupuncturist seeks to help a patient with back pain, they tend to focus on five main points.

 

The Stomach – Point CV6

Located two fingers width below the belly button, this acupuncture point is known as the “Sea of Energy.” By applying pressure to this area, it can strengthen the abdominal muscles, helping to relieve lower back pain.

The Lower Back – Points B23 and B47

Located along the 23rd point of the bladder meridian, these points are at the same level as your belly button, but are two fingers width on either side of the spine. Accessing these points can help reduce muscle tensions in the area and relieve lower back pain.

The Hipbone – B48 and GB30

These are located on both sides of the hip bone and three-quarters into the glute muscles, below the large bony area at the bottom of your spine. Massaging these points can help relieve hip pain, lower back pain, sciatica, muscle spasms, and hip joint pain. If you are currently experiencing pain in these areas, a visit to Acupuncture Works will ensure that proper care is taken.

The Back of the Knee – B53 and B54, or B40

Both of these points are located in the shallow of your knee — B53 is located towards the outside and B54 is directly in the center. Stimulating these points on both legs can help relieve stiffness and lower back pain that was caused by herniated discs or sciatica.

The Outer Ankle Bone – B60

Located between the Achilles tendon and the outer ankle bone, this acupuncture point can help relieve stiffness and pain in both the lower and upper back, as well as stiffness in the neck, headaches, and dizziness.

Our bodies are incredibly intricate and complex, and the science and medicine of acupuncture is still being researched. But there are millions of people who have experienced relief from chronic back pain due to the natural healing of acupuncture. By stimulating certain parts of the body, it can open up natural pathways and promote healing in a variety of ways.

Acupuncture Works is passionate about providing natural and alternative healing to our patients who are suffering from chronic back pain. Whether your back pain developed from an injury, strain from lifting, or simply from age, we are here to help you restore balance and regain your quality of life. When you’re struggling with back pain, it’s important to work with a professional acupuncture practitioner to ensure that the correct point is accessed. Located near Myrtle Beach, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with us!