Back Pain
Eastern Medicine Approach to Back Pain
Back pain can extend from the neck all the way down to the tailbone, and nine out of ten adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
It is most often caused by sprains in the ligaments or muscle strains, but can also be due to a herniated disc or oseteoarthritis. Pain is generally treated with medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin; opioids or steroids may also be prescribed. These medications may work in the short term, but they do not address the underlying problem.
Eastern medicine divides pain into three main types:
1) deficiency (dull, chronic pain, improves with rest)
2) stagnation (severe, stabbing, often related to injury)
3) cold & damp (numbess, swelling, improves with heat)
Each type of pain calls for a specific treatment that your practitioner will customize to your body. By stimulating particular points with needles (acupuncture) or fingers (acupressure massage), we can improve the circulation of blood and energy, reduce inflammation, and encourage your natural healing process. This approach allows your body to solve the root cause of its pain.
Back Pain Case Study
Peter was a 42 year-old male who constantly experienced discomfort in his lower back. Some days he found his range of motion severely limited by his pain, and it was worse on rainy days.
After asking Peter about his lifestyle, we discovered he led a sedentary life as an office worker. Upon examination, we found tenderness at lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, and 5. The diagnosis was cold, damp pain — his body was unable to circulate heat and energy efficiently, and this resulted in stagnation and pain.
We treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, and recommended losing weight with light exercise. After five treatments, the pain subsided completely.
Medical Research on Back Pain
Two separate studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine have both concluded that acupuncture is more effective for back pain than conventional medications.
In 2007, more than 1,100 patients in Germany were randomly assigned to receive either conventional medication for pain or acupuncture. 47% of patients in the acupuncture group reported significant improvement, compared to only 27% in the usual care group.
In 2009, a team led by Dr. Daniel Cherkin of the Center for Health Studies in Seattle found similar results, with improvement in 60% of the acupuncture group vs. 39% of the usual care group.
Pain Research Links:
Acupuncture Works for Back Pain, USA Today
Acupressure Good for Back Pain, BBC
Ear Acupuncture for Back Pain During Pregnancy Dr. Weil
Nerves Tangle, and Back Pain Becomes a Toothache New York Times
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