Acupuncture for Back Pain

Let us look at Acupuncture for back pain—the pandemic in our society among stressed sedentary workers who overdo on weekends. So many people depend on NSAIDs “band aid” pain meds with deleterious effects even when easy alternatives exist. The great thing about treating low back pain with Acupuncture is that the treatment will benefit internal organs while alleviating pain. Certain trigger points for pain are also activating points for intestines, kidneys, and bladder. The adrenals—the power pack of the hormone system, are ‘ad-renals’ as they sit on top of the kidneys. Together these joined organs ‘govern’ the back, according to Chinese Medicine theory. So when the adrenals become run down from stress and agitation, they directly affect the nerves of the back, making it susceptible to stiffness and pain. This explains why so many people will suddenly throw their back out with no causal exertion or injury.

When I treat the back, I address the muscles and the electrical conduits that run its entire length.  There are points along the Bladder Meridian running down the leg that pull low back congestion down and away. So I start with a vibrating massage tool to relax the body from head to toe to “wake it up”, relaxing the entire nervous system, and getting all the cells vibrating. The patient LOVES this part and can sink into a relaxed state of “letting go.” The infra-red heat lamp gives luxuriant heat to the area and helps break up inflammation.

Painless, fine needles are inserted so quickly that, in most cases, the brain does not have time to register any sensation at all. The heat from a moxa stick or the infrared lamp penetrates the tissue and is also conducted down the shaft of the needle to reach the core of the tight muscle or the pinched nerve. It can flow into the joints, deep into the thickest part of the buttock, addressing the sciatic nerve and any inflammatory arthritis in the hip joint. The heat and the electrical effect of the needle cause the muscle fibers to relax around the nerve, discharge the built-up charge, and turn off the pain nerves. The increased circulation brings in nutrients and carries away toxins. And the overall treatment induces the feel-good endorphins all through the body and mind…

If only people realized that they could alleviate their back pain AND balance and rejuvenate their internal organs at the same time. Then they would get it that this kind of treatment achieves much more as a ‘5,000 mile tune-up,’ and is worth pursuing.  After forty years of watching miracles happen, I feel bad for so many who still bear it in silence, allowing the condition to worsen while suffering from the accumulating side effects of pain meds.

One patient was on 10 Vicodin a day after 2 surgeries, was screaming as he maneuvered his walker into my waiting room. After 2 treatments he was almost pain free, and then okay ever after. I love those stories…! Please post your comments here on the blog in the box below and share Your views or stories!! I would love to hear…