Acupuncture might be a good option to help you get relief from back pain.

Unfortunately, back pain is something most of us will experience. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people live with a daily ache. Some people live with something more serious. No matter your current pain level, I'm here to help!

This article will help you understand the acupuncture approach to low back pain. This approach might be different from what you are you to, so read on.

Understanding Back Pain

Your back is a complex structure made up of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs. Pinpointing the cause of your pain is not always as simple as getting an MRI. The pictures don't tell the whole story.

That's why so many back surgeries are unsuccessful.

A study of 1,450 patients in Ohio found that only 26% of those who had lumbar fusion surgery returned to work. Compare that to 67% of patients with similar diagnoses who avoided surgery. That suggests a 74% failure rate for surgery.

Common Low Back Issues  

• Disc bulges and herniations happen when the outer edges of the discs between your vertebrae become damaged, causing the soft, jelly-like center to bulge or push out.
• Subluxations are a misalignment in the spine, often caused by physical stress, injury, or even emotional tension. These misalignments can lead to significant discomfort and restrict your movement. 
• Sprains and strains often occur when we push our bodies beyond their usual limits—like lifting something heavy while twisting or after an unexpected accident. These injuries can be very painful, often causing swelling or bruising around the affected area. They may also affect the alignment of your spine, adding to your discomfort.
• Ileocecal Syndrome  In some cases, irritation of the ileocecal valve in the colon can cause referred pain to the lower back,
• Chronic stress can take a toll on your body, contributing to tension, muscle spasms, and even chronic back pain. When stress hormones build up, they often create tight, painful areas known as trigger points. 

How Is Acupuncture Different?
In one word, "energy". Science is finally catching up to what the ancient Chinese have known for centuries -- our body needs energy to heal. 

If the energy in your low back has fallen below a certain threshold (about 30 millivolts), your body cannot heal. It becomes weaker and weaker. It is more vulnerable to more injury. 

This is why massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, bed rest, and even surgery sometimes fail to help people get all the way better. They are all useful tools. And sometimes they are the right tool for the job of fixing your back. But if your healing battery is weak, those tools can only do so much. 

Your grandfather knew that the right tool made doing any job easier. Acupuncture is the right  tool to add energy back into your body. It's the only form of medicine that has a precise method for delivering energy where it's needed to re-start the healing process.

A Short Note About Pain

From the acupuncturist's point of view, pain is the body's signal that energy levels are low, or blocked and need to be corrected. I use a combination of ancient and modern acupuncture techniques to restore energy levels and remove energy blocks.

That's why acupuncture can seem like a miracle. Pain can simply indicate a block in an energy pathway. If that energy block is left untreated, it will cause more problems later on, like a pulled back, for instance. 

But most of the time, pain indicates that there is low energy in an entire area. So even after the block is removed, the pain does not go away immediately. It takes some time to recharge the weak area and the pain signals to quiet down.

I'm Here to Help!
If you’re curious about how acupuncture can support your journey to a pain-free back, I suggest you schedule a new patient consultation. Just click on the button below to contact me and get started.