Acupuncture Treatment for Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common complaints in the UK. In our clinics, we see on average over 100 patients per week presenting with back pain of some form.

Our integrated approach means we look at the back from differing perspectives. Understanding of the anatomy of the spine, the muscles, discs and nerves provide a traditional western medicine approach as a physio or osteopath or consultant would have. But Chinese medicine views back pain very differently from these other therapies. Back pain is often seen as stagnation of qi (energy) and blood in the local area. Treatment is then based on moving qi and blood through the channels to ensure that free flow is maintained.  In combination with this, external pathogenic factors can invade into the area. For example, many patients present with a back that is stiff and feels cold, the pain is worse when they go outside in the cold, damp weather and is improved when they put a hot water bottle on it. This provides a diagnosis of cold, damp in the channels which the acupuncturist then tries to clear. For other patients, a hot water bottle aggravates the pain and so a completely different diagnosis and treatment principle is made.

So in the treatment of back pain, the type of pain (whether it is dull or sharp), the time of day it occurs and what soothes or aggravates it are all of diagnostic importance. This then leads to dealing with the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.

It is this combined approach to assessing back pain that can lead to a very personalised and bespoke treatment for each client. It means we can often get success where other treatments have not been effective.

In the case of severe disc trauma, acupuncture can be very useful when physical manipulation through chiropractic is too painful or undesirable. Here, we can often provide a very gentle but highly effective treatment.

Between our clinics, we can offer a comprehensive service for back pain. With acupuncture, chiropractic and physiotherapy in two locations we aim to provide the best all round care. If necessary, we can arrange X-rays or MRI’s and we have good working relationships with some of the best consultants in the country.

Back pain is predominantly treated with acupuncture, although herbal medicine may be used in certain situations. This may be combined with the use of heat lamps, Chinese massage or electro-acupuncture to achieve the best results.