Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is such a common complaint, with over 27% of the UK population, this equates to nearly 6 million people.
Lower back pain refers to any pain that occurs in the lumbar spine. For some the pain can occur centrally, towards the left or right, the pain can be either sharp or dull and could be acute (recent) or chronic. On occasion some patients can develop neurological involvement (often referred to as sciatic) and may experience a burning pain, pins and needles or numbness down the leg or buttock. Any type of chronic pain can be an incredibly debilitating problem and if it is present for a long time, pain can become a vicious cycle that affects so many aspects of our lives such as relationships, sleep, work, friendships, moods and the ability to function normally. Back pain can occur from several factors: Sprains and strains of the muscles and soft tissues around the spine are common causes, muscle spasms, irritation of nerve roots, disc prolapse or degeneration or bone deformity. Low back pain can develop as a result of an injury, disease, poor posture and ageing. It is likely that most of us will develop some degree of musculoskeletal degeneration and dysfunction with age, while this does not always cause pain or lead to symptoms; other important factors that can lead to lower back pain with ageing includes excess body weight and a lack of exercise. Lifestyle factors can also be a big contributor to developing low back pain, for example: Spending more than eight hours sitting at work with a poorly set up workstation or driving for long periods or being too sedentary. The current international guidelines for management of lower back pain include paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, antidepressants and corticosteroids among others. However, the majority of these medications only offer mild relief from the pain and in some individuals they can cause side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, addiction, allergic reactions and gut discomfort.
What conditions can it help with
- Sciatica
- Sprains and strains
- Sport injuries
- Postural issues
- Degeneration
How many sessions will I need?
An Acupuncture treatment can be used as a stand alone therapy or used alongside soft tissue massage and mobilisation. It really depends how acute or chronic your condition is. Once a full medical history is taken Marianne will decide what is the best treatment for you to try and provide the best outcome. All treatments are individually tailored and number of treatments will vary from patient to patient, however, usually you can expect to have 3 sessions before a review to see how the treatment is working for you.
If you have any queries or questions or are considering a treatment and need further info please click on the contact page above to get in touch, I will be happy to help.