Back pain is a common problem, especially lower back pain. In fact, most people will experience some form of discomfort in their lower back at some point in their life.
Low back pain can range from mild ache to severe and debilitating pain. In advanced cases, low back pain can lead to shooting pains down the legs, or numbness with tingling all the way down to the feet. It can make walking uncomfortable, and even make it hard to stand for more than 10 minutes.
If you have already sought treatment for your back pain (either here in Prescott or anywhere else in the country) then you probably know the drill. First, steroid injections. Then epidurals. Then Gabapentin, then surgery.
However, recently both the Northern Arizona VA and the Federal Medicare system have come to appreciate another treatment: Acupuncture.
So, how does acupuncture for lower back pain work? Let's take a closer look.
An Acupuncturist's View of Lower Back Pain
The way that pain is viewed in traditional Chinese medicine (abbreviated as TCM, which is where acupuncture comes from originally) is quite different from what you may be used to.
According to TCM, our health and well-being depend on a substance called qi. The word ‘qi’ is difficult to translate into English, but most people describe it as a form of energy. Although this translation does not quite do qi justice, it can help us to understand how it behaves in the body; it is formless, light, and travels quickly from place to place.
Qi moves around the body in channels called meridians. It has many different roles, and one of these is aiding the circulation of blood. Qi and blood have a close relationship with one another and depend on each other to stay healthy. When either qi or blood becomes imbalanced, the other will surely follow.
Under normal circumstances, qi and blood should flow easily from one area of the body to another. This ensures that every muscle, tissue, and organ gets all the nourishment they need. However, in reality, their flow can easily be disrupted.
This disruption can be a result of physical trauma, which changes the shape of the channels. This can happen suddenly, for example, following an injury. Otherwise, it can happen gradually over time as a result of poor posture or overuse.
In some cases, qi and blood can stop flowing due to emotional factors. For example, stress causes the muscles to become tense, making it harder for these substances to circulate.
Whatever the reason, though, when qi and blood cannot flow freely, they stagnate. And in TCM, stagnation equals pain.
Stagnation and Inflammation: What’s the Difference?
Inflammation is our body’s way of protecting us when we are injured. It draws our awareness to an area and reminds us to take extra care. The chemicals involved in inflammation directly fight off invading substances and begin the healing process.
Inflammation is caused by the immune system increasing blood flow to a damaged area to aid healing. This increased blood flow leads to the signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The symptoms of stagnation in TCM are very similar. However, there are some key differences too.
There are two main types of stagnation; qi stagnation and blood stagnation (also known as blood stasis). Both of these conditions can cause pain, but the type of pain is slightly different.
Pain due to qi stagnation tends to be more like a dull ache. It can be relieved easily with heat, pressure, and movement. However, pain due to blood stagnation tends to be more severe. It can feel stabbing or boring in nature and heat, pressure, and movement makes it worse.
In my view, this distinction is one of the primary reasons that acupuncture has proven so successful - the treatment is different depending on your specific pain.
Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
There are many benefits to acupuncture for lower back pain. The first is relieving stagnation and restoring the free flow of qi and blood. You can visualize this by picturing your body’s meridians as an electrical circuit. If the circuit gets broken for any reason, there will be stagnation and pain.
The tiny needles used in acupuncture can act as switches. When they are placed in the right positions, they can complete the broken circuit and help to relieve the pain.
If lower back pain is due to a Kidney imbalance, the focus of treatment will be on nourishing these organs and returning them to health. This can be done by using acupuncture alone or combined with herbal medicine. Your acupuncturist will also probably recommend some lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet or resting more often.
The real beauty of acupuncture is that it is totally individualized therapy. So, whatever the cause of your lower back pain, treatment can be tailored to your personal needs.
From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture helps to relax tense muscles and improve circulation in painful areas. These properties mean that it can offer fast relief from discomfort and promote healing.
Finally, acupuncture helps to release chemicals called endorphins. These are natural painkilling compounds that the body creates in response to stress and injuries. They work in a similar way to opioids, but without harmful side effects.
If you or a loved one is suffering from back pain and you’d like to meet our Doctor of Acupuncture for a free consultation, please call us at (928) 275-4154, or visit drbenhuri.com and use the link on our homepage.
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