Many patients find acupuncture helpful in relieving their chronic back pain. If you consider trying acupuncture for your condition, you may have a few questions, such as how can you use acupuncture for chronic pain, and can acupuncture relieve chronic back pain? Find the answers and more in this short guide.
How Does Acupuncture Relieve Pain?
During acupuncture, a specialist inserts very thin needles into your skin at certain points in the affected area. When a trained acupuncturist performs acupuncture, you should feel little to no pain from the needles. The acupuncturist may move, heat or apply electrical pulses to the needles to increase their effectiveness. The needles stay in place for about 10 to 20 minutes before your acupuncturist removes them.
Scientists don’t understand the entire process behind acupuncture’s pain relieving abilities, but evidence shows that it helps many patients. In fact, acupuncture can alleviate pain by as much as 50 percent. It also has few side effects and complications, making it worth it for many patients to try. The theories behind why acupuncture can reduce pain include:
- Stimulation of the central nervous system: When the acupuncturist inserts needles into your acupuncture points, they may stimulate the central nervous system. Your body then releases chemicals into your brain, muscles and spinal cord.
- Release of natural opioids: Your brain might create natural opioids that relieve pain and improve your mood.
- Acceleration of electromagnetic signals: The needles may increase the rate of your nerves’ electromagnetic signals, causing your body to release immune cells or painkilling chemicals.
- Changes in brain chemistry: Your brain’s release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones changes and impacts how your nerves and organs function.
Acupuncture could relieve pain in multiple ways. With more research, we can discover how to use it best for this chronic condition.
Does Acupuncture Work for Chronic Back Pain?
When you get acupuncture for chronic back pain from a professional, you can get relief. Every patient has a different experience with acupuncture, but its low risk makes it worth trying for many people. You can receive acupuncture for upper and lower back pain. The acupuncture points for upper back pain appear on the following parts of your body:
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Head
- Upper back
Meanwhile, you can lower back pain acupuncture points in places you may not expect. Depending on the nature of your lower back pain, you might receive acupuncture on your:
- Back of the knees
- Hands
- Hip
- Stomach
- Feet
- Lower back
Before getting acupuncture services, we recommend a medical consultation first. While most patients can have a safe acupuncture experience, some circumstances can cause risks. For example, your doctor might suggest an alternative if you take blood thinners. You can visit our team at the International Spine Institute for expert advice and treatment.
Contact the International Spine Institute for Back Pain Relief
The experts at the International Spine Institute can diagnose your back pain and help you find solutions that address the source of your issue. We specialize in least-invasive spine procedures that have the lowest impact on your body possible. These treatments use advanced medical technology to address the cause of your back pain without large incisions. Let our specialists recommend the best course of action and refer you to reputable providers for treatments like acupuncture.
If you have persistent back pain that needs more than acupuncture alone, we can help. You may schedule a spine consultation using our online portal. We also encourage you to contact our team online if you have any questions.