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Back pain is a very common problem that affects 80 percent of all individuals at some point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the top reasons people seek medical care. Unfortunately, back pain isn't always easy to diagnose or treat. Low back pain in particular can become a chronic or ongoing problem.

 

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are very effective in treating back pain naturally. They can also be used together with Western medical treatments to maximize your healing and recovery.

 

How back pain happens

There are many possible causes for back pain. Improper lifting, sudden movements or traumatic injury can result in strained muscles or ligaments. Other culprits can include arthritis, structural abnormalities of the spine or discs, bulging or rupturing and pressure on a nerve. Depending on the specific diagnosis, back pain is generally treated with medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care and in some cases, surgery.

 

A more natural approach

An acupuncturist will not only work to relieve your symptoms, but will also aim to find and treat the underlying cause(s) of your pain. In a study conducted at a Swedish hospital, doctors concluded that acupuncture provided long-term pain relief along with improvements in physical activity levels, quality of sleep and diminished use of pain medication.

 

In a recent German study, patients reported the acupuncture treatments they received were more effective for lower back pain than most conventional treatments. This study yielded such impressive results that acupuncture is now considered a mainstream treatment in Germany and is covered by state health insurance.

 

Acupuncture and TCM are based on the concept that energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”), flows through the body along different pathways to different organs. If the body's energy becomes stagnant, unbalanced or deficient, symptoms such as back pain, aches and inflammation can result. This can happen for any number of reasons, such as injury, illness or stress.

 

According to T CM, types and possible causes of back pain include the following:

• Stagnation - A pain that is often linked to sudden, stabbing, severe pain that is related to sprains, strains or trauma. It can be accompanied by stiffness and tightness and becomes worse with rest. If it occurs often in the same area(s) it may reflect an underlying deficiency
• Obstruction - A pain that is generally worse in the morning and exacerbated by cold or damp weather. This type of pain condition may be associated with numbness, swelling and a sense of "heaviness." Heat improves this condition.
• Deficiency - A pain that is usually a chronic condition that presents with a "dull" pain and improves with rest.

 

Restoring balance

Once your practitioner has determined the cause(s) of your back pain, he or she will design a specific treatment plan to address your concerns and boost your overall health and vitality. During acupuncture treatments, your practitioner will insert fine, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points on the body in order to restore the body back to its natural balance.

The acupuncturist may also perform acupressure or other types of therapy, based on your unique issues and symptoms.