Back Pain is one of the most prevalent health problems that Americans face today. In fact the National Pain Foundation reports the following:

• Approximately 85% of Americans experience back pain of some sort by age 50.
• Back problems are the most frequent cause of activity limitations in working-age adults.
• More than 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 experience frequent back pain.
• Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old.
• Back pain is the second most common reason why people in the United States seek medical care from their primary care physicians.

It is not surprising that back pain is so widespread when we consider the structural importance and complexity of the back. From stability to movement to protection, the back is involved in almost every moment of our lives. With all of this work that the back performs, common causes of back pain include: nerve compression from bulging vertebral discs, strains or sprains of the soft tissue, nerve impingement from spinal stenosis, inflammation from herniated vertebral discs, and other arthritis related inflammation.

Through the use of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, acupuncturists are able to address these causes of back pain and reduce the amount of pain the patient feels. We approach treatment by first diagnosing the disease pattern in accordance with Chinese Medicine theories. These patterns can be correlated to Western medicine diagnosis.

For instance the back pain you experience could fall into a pattern Chinese medicine identifies as Qi and Blood Stasis. Loosely defined Qi Stagnation can be a compared with any type of nerve impingement because Chinese medicine hypothesizes that when the Qi cannot flow properly it can often manifest as pain. Qi is said to be responsible for moving the Blood. If the Qi does not flow smoothly and is stagnant, then the Blood will become static. So, from Qi Stagnation there often follows a natural progression to Blood Stasis. This is just one example of a Chinese medicine pattern that can cause back pain.

Once your particular pattern is identified we can move on to treating this cause of your back pain. Acupuncture points have properties, or actions, that are triggered when a stimuli, such as a needle, is introduced. We select points based on the presenting pattern. If the Qi and Blood are stagnant, then we select acupuncture points that have the action of moving the Qi and invigorating the Blood. These points can be located both where the pain is felt and elsewhere on the body where there is an impact on Qi and Blood flow throughout the body. In addition to acupuncture we may incorporate Chinese herbal formulas, Chinese herbal liniments, Moxabustion and other therapies to move the Qi and Blood.

By using this method of pattern identification and the modalities of Chinese medicine we are able to treat the patient and provide relief from the back pain. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a gentle process of establishing balance and the proper flow of energy and fluids in the body. Just as our bodies learn to compensate for pain, so must the body “learn” to adjust to the lack of pain. It is for this reason a course of treatment is necessary to achieve lasting results.