How many sessions of acupuncture for back pain?
How many sessions of acupuncture for back pain?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons that patients seek out acupuncture. This is likely due to the fact that acupuncture is most well known for effective musculoskeletal pain relief. (It’s actually also great for a wide range of internal medicine issues as well). Back pain is one of my favorite things to treat because it typically responds really well to acupuncture. And when patients overcome severe or long standing back pain it makes a life changing impact!
How Many Acupuncture Sessions Are Typically Needed for Back Pain?
The number of sessions needed for back pain varies depending on a few factors, such as:
- Cause of back pain - Common causes include back spasm, recent injury, overuse, disc degeneration or disc issues, postural stress and tension, and stenosis.
- Severity and quality of pain - Ranging from mild to severe, constant or intermittent, achy or sharp and stabbing.
- Chronicity - Ranging from recent onset to a couple months to long standing.
- Lifestyle factors - Certain avoidable or unavoidable lifestyle factors may contribute to length of treatment such as manual labor or sitting at a desk.
- General health - Sleeping well and stress management play a role in healing
As a general rule of thumb, less severe and more recent onset cases will require fewer treatments, whereas longer standing cases will require more treatments. For example,
- Acute back pain lasting 1 week or shorter may require as few as 2-3 sessions
- Subacute back pain lasting 6 - 12 weeks typically requires 5-10 sessions
- Chronic back pain typically requires 10 or more treatments to fully resolve. For patients with very long standing (5+ years or lifelong) back pain, ongoing maintenance sessions may play a key role in maintaining pain relief, mobility and strength.
Individual Response Times
Each patient is different and response times vary. Some people respond faster, others may respond slower, especially if there are complicating factors such as chronic stress, poor sleep and/or structural changes.
Importance of frequency
Acupuncture works by releasing trigger points, improving circulation, regulating the nervous system and triggering engagement of the body’s natural ability to heal. Acupuncture triggers the release of endogenous (made by the body) opioid-like pain killers and anti-inflammatory agents. The relief that this provides can be long lasting, but to get to the point of relief, frequent sessions are important in the beginning of the treatment plan. Two sessions per week is a good minimum in the initial stage of treatment.
The Importance of Personalized Treatments
Chinese Medicine is a holistic system in the sense that it views the body as a whole, with all parts being interrelated. When treating back pain, a skilled practitioner of Chinese Medicine will take into account many factors which may seem unrelated to back pain. For example, if there are issues with stress and anxiety, digestion, or sleep– these point to underlying issues that may be contributing to the chronicity and severity of back pain. We can understand this from a Western standpoint as well: sleep and nervous system regulation (regular engagement of “rest and digest” state) are essential for tissue repair. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine works by addressing not only issues in the muscles and nerves locally, but by treating the body as a whole. This is one of the ways that acupuncture by a Chinese Medicine practitioner differs from “dry needling” provided by a western medical provider. A Chinese Medicine acupuncturist can provide dry needling style acupuncture as part of a holistic treatment that also addresses underlying and related issues such as sleep and stress management.
Chinese Medicine is a system of diagnosis and treatment that includes more than just acupuncture. Manual therapy modalities such as cupping and gua sha may be incorporated into acupuncture treatments. Another important treatment modality under the umbrella of Chinese Medicine is Herbal Therapy. Topical herbs are often incorporated into acupuncture treatments for back pain. Chinese herbal formulas can also be taken orally. While many cases of acute and chronic pain will respond well to acupuncture alone, in some cases herbal therapy is essential.
Incorporating Cutting Edge Techniques: Electro-acupuncture for Back Pain
Electro-acupuncture involves gentle electrical stimulation applied to select acupuncture needles. It’s a modern, science based advancement in acupuncture that blends seamlessly with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Electroacupuncture enhances certain effects of acupuncture including triggering the body to release endogenous opioid-like pain killers like endorphins. This technique is very helpful for a wide range of chronic pain issues and is highly effective for treating back pain. Frequency of sessions is particularly important for getting the most benefit from electro-acupuncture as possible. Release of endorphins into the bloodstream as a result of electro acupuncture is cumulative, with each treatment building on the last. When treatments are spaced too far apart (less than twice a week) endorphins in the bloodstream may come back to the baseline starting point rather than increasing with each treatment. That’s not to say there will not be other measurable benefits to receiving acupuncture once per week, but it may not be the ideal treatment frequency. On the other hand, frequent treatment for a 3-4 weeks may provide years of pain relief.¹
What’s the best treatment plan for you?
In order to figure out how many sessions of acupuncture for back pain is appropriate for you, you will want to meet with an acupuncturist experienced in treating back pain. Ideally, you’ll have the option of an initial consultation to get a sense of their style and treatment approach. The practitioner should be able to give you a sense of how many treatments you are likely to need. You may also want to find a practitioner that is trained in electroacupuncture and custom herbal therapy if that is available in your area.
We provide acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy for back pain in New York City.
At Gotham Integrative Acupuncture and Wellness we provide acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy for back pain. We’ve helped many New Yorkers get relief from acute and chronic back pain.
All New Patients start with an in-person Complimentary Consultation. During the consultation, new patients meet with the acupuncturist to go over health history, current complaints, and health goals. We'll determine the best treatment plan for you and answer any questions you may have. You'll have the option to get started with treatment right away, but there's no obligation to do so.
Your treatment plan for back pain, as well as any secondary complaints, may include acupuncture, herbal therapy, or both. We also offer massage therapy for back pain (a consultation is not required to book a massage session).
If you’d like to learn more, book a consultation to find out if we can help you! For questions, reach us by email at
info@gothamholistic.com or phone at
646-255-1332.
References
- Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neurosci Lett. 2004 May 6;361(1-3):258-61. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.019. PMID: 15135942.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin flexible needles into specific points (acupoints) on the body. Acupuncture is one of several treatment techniques that comes from Chinese Medicine. Other treatment modalities and techniques include:
- Tui Na (massage and “bone setting” similar to chiropractic care),
- Gua sha (a manual scraping technique; deeper strokes for musculoskeletal and a lighter technique for facial rejuvenation)
- Cupping (applying a vacuum to the skin to promote healing)
- Moxibustion
- Qi Gong or Tai Qi
- Nutritional guidance
- Lifestyle guidance
During an acupuncture treatment, an acupuncturist is guided by the theory of Chinese Medicine, as well as anatomical considerations for musculoskeletal issues when selecting points for a treatment. Other treatment techniques from Chinese Medicine may be included or recommended as part of a treatment plan. Electroacupuncture (a modern advancement) may also be used. This involves applying gentle electrical stimulation to acupuncture points by connecting a device to acupuncture needles.
A note about Chinese Herbal Therapy
Acupuncture is the most well known modality from Chinese Medicine in the US. Chinese Herbal therapy is a lesser known, equally powerful medicine. Most people searching for a list like this one are probably looking for a health solution and to learn more about Chinese Medicine, and you are perhaps not so attached to acupuncture specifically. So - keep in mind that if you see an acupuncturist that is trained in herbal therapy (not all are) they may recommend herbal therapy as a secondary or primary treatment modality for you for some of the listed conditions.
When does acupuncture and Chinese Medicine excel?
- Preventive medicine
- Coughs, colds, flus (helps to boost the immune system)
- Muscle and nerve health (helps to prevent injury and improve musculoskeletal recovery after activity)
- Mental and emotional health (helps to regulate the nervous system by “turning down” fight or flight response and engaging the rest and digest response)
- Reproductive health (for regular, pain free menstrual cycles, peri/menopausal health, fertility)
- Chronic conditions such as (this is not an exhaustive list)
- Chronic pain - joint, muscle and nerve pain of all kinds
- Digestive issues
- Insomnia
- Menstrual complaints
- Post-viral syndromes
- Depression and anxiety
- Headaches, including migraines
- Complaints that are not fully understood by western medicine.
- This includes umbrella diagnoses like fibromyalgia, IBS, and some autoimmune conditions. These diagnoses are determined by ruling out other causes of symptoms; there’s no test that gives a clear positive for these conditions. For example, if you are suffering from chronic constipation and there are no signs of anything abnormal on blood work, imaging, or any other testing, your doctor may say they “can’t find anything wrong.” However, in acknowledgement of the fact that something is in fact wrong (the constipation) they may diagnose you with IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome w/ constipation).
- Complaints that are sub-clinical from a western stand point
- A common example of this is bothersome or painful menstrual cramps. Menstrual cramps unless very severe are considered “normal.” Birth control may be offered to manage symptoms hormonally, but not all patients are interested in taking birth control. Chinese Medicine practitioners generally agree that this is sort of like a bandaid; it’s not addressing the root cause of painful periods. Many patients that seek Chinese Medicine are looking for something that addresses the root cause of their discomfort, which it does!
- Cases in which the conventional treatment fails
- Sometimes there's a really obvious and proven western medical treatment for a condition and it just doesn’t work for someone. One example of this is antibiotic treatment for SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). This condition is linked to a host of unpleasant symptoms and is treated by a course (or more) of antibiotics. Many patients experience relief. Some don’t. When western medicine fails, Chinese Medicine often works. Patients who have “tried everything” tend to benefit from acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbal medicine.
When is Western Medicine the better option?
- Antibiotic treatment is required for many bacterial infections, especially contagious ones such as strep throat.
- In some cases stubborn and chronic bacterial infections may benefit from Chinese herbal medicine when antibiotics have failed.
- Trauma in which stabilization and/or surgery is clearly required
- Severe conditions in which hospitalization or medication is clearly indicated
- In the case of large masses, surgery may be necessary
- Chinese Medicine may help in some cases of smaller masses including small kidney stones, gallstones, fibroids and benign cysts.
- Some mental health conditions are best treated with pharmaceuticals
- Cancer
In many cases Chinese Medicine offers great benefit as a supportive and/or rehabilitative therapy alongside conventional treatment.
What can acupuncture treat?: A list of common diagnoses and symptoms*
Chronic Pain Conditions
- Chronic joint, muscle and nerve pain of all kinds including:
- Neck pain, cervicalgia
- Shoulder pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Jaw pain, TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) syndrome, TMD, bruxism (clenching and and grinding)
- Sciatica and piriformis syndrome
- Knee pain, patellar maltracking syndrome, IT band pain syndrome
- Foot pain, plantar fasciitis, morton’s neuroma
- Achilles tendonitis
- Fibromyalgia
Acute Pain Conditions
- Joint, muscle and nerve injuries; especially strains and sprains
- Back spasm, back pain, lumbago
- Sciatica and piriformis syndrome flare
- Acute spasm in any region of the body
- Acute flare up of trigger point pain
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Arthritis flare up
- Overuse flare up
- Headaches and migraines
- Post-operative pain
- Dysmenorrhea attack (painful period)
Internal Medicine Concerns
- Digestion
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Acid Reflux
- IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBS-C, IBS-D symptoms
- UC (ulcerative colitis) symptoms
- Inflammatory bowel disease symptoms
- SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) associated symptoms
- Insomnia
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Primary insomnia
- Secondary insomnia in some cases
- Restless leg syndrome
- Post-viral syndromes and associated symptoms including:
- Brain fog
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic muscle pain
- Insomnia
- Mood
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Stress management
- Reproductive health
- Common but treatable menstrual complaints including bloating, cramps, mood swings, headaches, diarrhea/constipation, back pain
- Amenorrhea (absence of period)
- Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
- Irregular cycles
- PCOS symptoms
- PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder)
- Fertility support, infertility - for natural conception, IUI, IVF, egg freezing
- Sperm quality
- Peri-menopause and menopausal symptoms
*A brief disclaimer:
Western Medicine Diagnoses. I’ve included western medical diagnosis names in the list. All the information including western medical diagnoses received by a doctor can be helpful information for your Chinese Medicine practitioner. However, acupuncturists do not treat western medical conditions; treatments are guided by principles of Chinese Medicine.
Integrative approach. Some of the conditions listed below may require or benefit from an integrative approach in which a western medical provider is involved. In some cases conventional treatment is also necessary. In these cases acupuncture can still play a vital role in healing.
We provide acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy for back pain in New York City.
At Gotham Integrative Acupuncture and Wellness we provide acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy to help our patients get out of pain, sleep well, manage stress and anxiety, get pregnant, have happier periods, and more.
All New Patients start with an in-person Complimentary Consultation. During the consultation, new patients meet with the acupuncturist to go over health history, current complaints, and health goals. We'll determine the best treatment plan for you and answer any questions you may have. You'll have the option to get started with treatment right away, but there's no obligation to do so.
Your treatment plan for back pain, as well as any secondary complaints, may include acupuncture, herbal therapy, or both. We also offer massage therapy for back pain (a consultation is not required to book a massage session).
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, book a consultation. For questions, reach us by email at info@gothamholistic.com or phone at 646-255-1332.
