A 28-year-old woman came to our clinic suffering from severe low back and sacral pain. She was a nurse and worked three 12-hour shifts a week in the intensive care unit. It was a high-stress, intense job that was challenging enough when she was feeling good. Her back pain made the job agony. She had tried chiropractic and physical therapy, without success. Acupuncture was her last resort. This back pain case study describes how acupuncture was able to resolve her back pain and let her enjoy work again.
Back Pain Facts
30 million Americans experience low-back pain on any given day. Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease report published in 2010. In fact, back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work.
Acupuncture Facts
Acupuncture has been used to successfully treat back pain for thousands of years. It heals the back with a combination of therapies that are safe, relaxing, and long-lasting. First, acupuncture releases tight muscles that are in spasm. It trains muscles to function normally again. Second, it strengthens kidney function. Chinese medicine understands that good kidney health supports a happy low back.
Third, acupuncture opens blocked channels. Pain in the body is caused by a blockage in the channels that flow through our body. There are 14 main channels (aka meridians) passing up and down our arms, legs, torso, and head. Qi energy travels through these channels, nourishing our muscles, tendons, ligaments, and organs. When qi is blocked, pain results. Acupuncture opens channels, allowing qi to flow, and resolving pain in the process.
Back Pain Case Study
Our 28-year-old patient had overtaxed her back from working too hard. Her shifts were long, she was on her feet too much, lifting heavy patients, and bending in awkward positions. Over time this resulting in chronic, severe, debilitating low back pain.
Her treatment addressed all three aspects of acupuncture healing. Tight muscles were released. With each treatment these muscles became looser and more pliable, returning to their original state. In addition, we strengthened our patient’s kidney function. Working too hard taxes the kidneys. Since the kidneys oversee the low back, weakened kidneys often lead to low back problems. A stronger kidney helped heal her back and strengthen her overall constitution.
Lastly, her treatment opened channels in her back that had become blocked. Specific acupuncture points release the blockage, allowing qi to flow again. Increased qi circulation boosts blood circulation, both of which nourish the muscles and promote deep healing.
Within seven treatments she was 95% better. Work was still challenging, but she was able to perform her work tasked without injuring her back.
What to Expect
All needles are sterile, stainless steel, and hair-thin. Our patient hardly felt them. She typically got very relaxed during her treatments, sometimes falling asleep. Afterward, she was relaxed, feeling all the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. She truly enjoyed the stress-relieving aspects of treatment as well, which were an added benefit to her.
Next Steps
If you struggle with back pain, try acupuncture.
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What our Clients are Saying
I came to Raleigh Acupuncture. After 1 treatment, my back felt better than it has in a year. I’ve had acupuncture before elsewhere and it has never been this effective.
I went in for a bulging disc in my back and a couple of days after the first treatment I had no pain in my back. Before treatment I had a constant dull pain in the middle of my back when at rest. The treatments were about a week apart and I completed 3 of them. It has been about 3 weeks since I have been and have a slight pain in my back but is nowhere near what it was before I started treatment. Before getting acupuncture I tried chiropractic and felt worse when I was done. For those that are skeptical like me, let me tell you that it works. I would definitely recommend Dr Mark in his ability to help with your pain.
I suffered from low back pain for years and tried many different remedies. When I came to Raleigh Acupuncture, they really listened to understand my issues. I can honestly say that they cured my chronic back pain. I didn’t think it was possible, after all these years. I highly recommend this practice. The doctors take the time and do good work.
