You are probably reading this because you have tried everything to help your back pain and nothing has helped or the relief was only temporary. Advil, chiropractic, physical therapy, cortisone shots, muscle relaxers, hot packs, cold packs etc. Nothing seems to be helping. Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints an acupuncturist treats. Acupuncture can be extremely helpful for lower back pain. Lower back pain is also one of the leading causes of job disability in the United States. I occasionally suffer from lower back myself and acupuncture is usually what gets me feeling ok again. The pain can be very frustrating. For me I would have trouble standing straight or on occasion trouble walking. Not fun. Many patients come to the office in Mamaroneck looking for acupuncture treatment to relieve their lower back pain. Most cases are treated successfully.
causes of lower back pain
There are many causes of back pain and there are also many different ways to treat it. Poor posture, poor diet, improper lifting, obesity, scoliosis, trauma, herniated disc, disc degeneration, kidney stones,tumor, pregnancy, stress, arthritis, autoimmune issues(fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc.),improper exercise, improper shoes or bed, etc. From a Chinese Medicine perspective we also have Kidney weakness, exposure to certain environment (cold, damp etc.), blood stagnation, digestive issues, etc. Not only are there many different types of back pain but the acupuncture points and/or the herbal medicines used will be different for each case. Each patient has treatment designed specifically to fit their needs.
symptoms of lower back pain
The symptoms of lower back pain are:
- Aching, soreness, sharp pain
- Numbness and or tingling in the leg or foot.
- Muscle tightness in back and legs
- Decreased range of motion
For both acute and chronic low back pain acupuncture can be very helpful to reduce inflammation and pain. Acupuncture is also great to help relax and loosen the muscles in the lower back. Acupuncture is great for increasing circulation to the muscles, tendons and even bones of the spine. Many patients are often amazed at how helpful acupuncture can be for lower back pain. For more serious cases of lower back pain Chinese herbal medicine (internal and external), cupping, massage, gua sha, exercise etc. are often included in the treatment.
Dr. Tan and Master Tung Acupuncture For Lower Back Pain
I mostly practice the Balance Method and Master Tung styles of acupuncture. Both of these systems are known for very quick relief of pain. Many times patients will notice significant changes in their pain during the first few visits. Sometime the shifts of pain come within seconds or minutes. Using these styles of treatment on my patients has produced miraculous results and many patients often avoid invasive surgery.
Recent lower back pain case
Recently I have been treating a case of lower back pain at my office in Mamaroneck. The patient wakes up with with stiffness and a dull ache in his lower back. He cannot bend forward without feeling stiffness and pain. He was in a car accident a few months ago and since then he has been to a chiropractor. The chiropractic adjustments only gave him temporary relief. Besides his back pain the patient also suffers from high blood pressure, constipation, upper back and neck tension and occasional headaches. For this patient I focused on using acupuncture to not only relieve his back pain but to also relieve his upper back and neck tension as well. Diet and lifestyle advice has been included in his treatment to improve his constipation. After a few treatments his back is doing much better. He is feeling more relaxed and his bowel movements are becoming more regular. He is very happy with the outcome.
Many patients are often surprised at how much acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with not only their physical pain but it can also help tremendously in improving overall health. This includes sleep, digestion, mood etc. In the office in Rego Park all patients are looked at as an individual and treatment is designed to meet the specific needs of each patient.
Give me a call today at (914) 772-4044 to make an appointment at the Mamaroneck office to discuss your health concerns and we can figure out the best plan of action for you.
-Enjoy
Photo: Personal Injury Back Pain by San Diego Personal Injury Attorney courtesy of Creative Commons http://bit.ly/2aM30Nn
