back pain

Studies have shown that up to 80% of the population will experience some sort of back pain in their life.¹  Back pain can range in severity from a chronic nagging ache to acute pain that leave you unable to function. Whether you have an old injury that acts up from time to time, muscle spasms or tightness, disc degeneration, scoliosis, arthritis, postural stress, or another cause of back pain, we’re here to help. At Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, our professional acupuncturist is experienced in treating back pain with a wide variety of causes and presentations.

Treating Structural Problems Like Disc Degeneration and Scoliosis

If you’ve received imaging or a diagnosis based on abnormalities like a disc herniation or scoliosis, it can be difficult to even imagine how you could experience relief without fixing these structural problems. A conclusive diagnosis based on imaging can seem to indicate that your source of pain has been clearly identified. However, this is not necessarily the case. Studies have shown that many people without any back pain show the same abnormalities on imaging. What this means is that an MRI or X-Ray alone cannot determine the source of back pain. In the vast majority of cases, whether or not there are spinal abnormalities present, the source of pain is typically the muscles. As the muscles adapt to our movement patterns, physical demands, and even compensate for structural changes like a herniated disc or scoliosis, the muscles can become dysfunctional and painful. Tight muscles can also cause the spine to become misaligned, or press on nerves that cause radiating pain. There is a lot we can do to provide relief with acupuncture without invasive procedures aimed at fixing a structural change that may or may not be the source of pain. Acupuncture treats the muscles by releasing trigger points and adhesions, decreasing inflammation, as well as providing whole-body pain relief. Healthy muscles are better able to adapt to structural changes and keep you moving with strength and ease.

Postural Stress: A Common Cause of Tension and Pain

Does your job require you to work at a computer all day, or require repetitive lifting? Many jobs and activities require you to hold your body in a specific position for a long time. In an ideal world, we use our full range of motion frequently, not getting stuck in one position for too long. Unfortunately, the demands of modern life make it very difficult to avoid some postural stress. This often manifests as neck, shoulder, and back pain that is mild to moderate and often worse after work and better with rest. The quality of pain may be a dull nagging ache, or a feeling of tension, and is often accompanied by restricted range of motion (or loss of flexibility) in the neck or back. Flare-ups may bring severe pain for several days to a week that require rest. At Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, we discuss ways to improve your workstation and movement patterns to address the source of pain, and with acupuncture we’re able to release tight muscles and tone weak muscles to reduce pain and restore healthy posture. 

Is Acupuncture Right for You?

What To Expect at Your First Appointment 

During your initial consultation our licensed acupuncturist will review your health history, current symptoms, and health goals, and perform an exam in order to determine if you are a good candidate for acupuncture. You will be provided with a personalized treatment plan so you can be fully informed before you move forward with treatment. Treatment involves the insertion of sterile, single-use, ultra-thin needles that are designed with patient comfort in mind. Electro-acupuncture may also be used. In addition, our patients find our acupuncture treatments to be very relaxing.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Back Pain

Acupuncture does not involve the downtime associated with surgery and does not have the side effects associated with long term use of painkillers. Acupuncture is a non-invasive treatment that enhances the body’s natural ability to heal. Benefit of acupuncture include:

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Do You Need for Back Pain?

The number of sessions needed, as well as treatment frequency, depends on a number of variables. We start with a consultation for all new patients to take a detailed intake and collect all the necessary information in order to recommend a personalized treatment plan for you. 

Getting Started - Professional Acupuncture for Back Pain in New York City

At Gotham Holistic Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, we have had the pleasure of helping many of our New York City patients achieve relief from back pain and a return to activities formerly put on hold. Experience the life-changing benefits of acupuncture for back pain. To get started, book your appointment to meet with our skilled and experienced licensed acupuncturist and find out how we can help you.

Sources and Studies on Acupuncture for Back Pain

1. Back pain [Internet]. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; [cited 2022Jan24]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/multimedia/back-pain-infographic/ifg-20441500 
2. Wen Q, Ma P, Dong X, Sun R, Lan L, Yin T, Qu Y, Liu Y, Xiao Q, Zeng F. Neuroimaging Studies of Acupuncture on Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2021 Sep 20;15:730322. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.730322. PMID: 34616275; PMCID: PMC8488100.
3. Liu CH, Kung YY, Lin CL, Yang JL, Wu TP, Lin HC, Chang YK, Chang CM, Chen FP. Therapeutic Efficacy and the Impact of the "Dose" Effect of Acupuncture to Treat Sciatica: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. J Pain Res. 2019 Dec 31;12:3511-3520. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S210672. PMID: 32021387; PMCID: PMC6942513.
4. Urits I, Wang JK, Yancey K, Mousa M, Jung JW, Berger AA, Shehata IM, Elhassan A, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. Acupuncture for the Management of Low Back Pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2021 Jan 14;25(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s11916-020-00919-y. PMID: 33443607.
5. Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD. Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:328196. doi: 10.1155/2015/328196. Epub 2015 Mar 4. PMID: 25821485; PMCID: PMC4364128.