BACK PAIN? Read Here..


Back pain is one of the top reasons why millions of hours of work and activities are lost each year, and is one main reason for seeking healthcare that often results in surgery and more time off from work, pay, and fun activities spent with family and friends. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is an option many are not aware of that can have a profound effect on ones health and back, and in the long run saves millions of dollars in healthcare costs and precious time spent with family and friends.


Common Causes of Back Pain

1) Sprains which are an overstretching of one or more of the ligaments in the back.
2) Strains which are a rip or tear in the muscle caused by sudden force.
Both sprains and strains can happen from an injury, poor posture, or improper lifting.
3)Herniated disc which is a disc that bulges out from its place between two vertebrae.
4)Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that extends down into the buttocks and leg which comes from an irritation of a larger nerve in the lumbar spine called the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can accompany sprains, strains, herniated discs as well as back pain emanating from other sources.
There are many other reasons for back pain which has medical labels attached. Whether you know what is going on with the back or not,

Acupuncture will always do this for you:

1) stop the pain or lessen it greatly
2)strengthen your back so that it will get better without any complications
3)improve your immune system thus effecting and improving your overall health
4)Prevent future occurrences and sometimes prevent surgeries.
5)Sometimes reverse what is happening to a certain degree, such as if you need surgery as a last resort or some dangerous medication, you sometimes get so well, that you will not need this.
6)Vitality; that improves your overall health, gives you energy, sense of well-being, happiness, ability to do what you haven?t been able to do in a long time. Freedom to move and do fun activities with family and friends than what you were able to do before.

Traditional Oriental Medicine's vocabulary is very different from Western Medicine. Oriental Medical Practitioners will diagnosis in specific patterns that relate to what is going on with your whole body and not just symptoms related specifically with the back pain.
Common Oriental Medicine patterns include:

1)Deficiency=General pain characteristics are usually dull, chronic, and improves with rest. It is more common in middle aged and elderly people.

2) Qi and blood stagnation = This pain is more severe and stabbing in nature. There is stiffness and tightness in the muscles and it worsens with rest. Often this type is seen in occurrences of acute sprains and strains. It can reoccur chronically, thereby indicating an underlying deficiency.


3) Cold damp obstruction = This pain is worse in the morning, exacerbated by cold and damp weather. It improves with heat and may be accompanied by numbness, swelling and a sense of heaviness.

What is the treatment like?

Many find it relaxing. It is certainly not painful as many with the thoughts of needles being placed in the body bothers them, I often take the time to show them on my arm and then on their arm just how simple and easy it is. The reaction I often get is, the patient wondering when I am going to insert the needle when it is already in. many seek acupuncture anyway because they have heard the great effects it has on one of their friends or acquaintances and they just need relief and have tried everything else. You don?t have to try everything else before trying acupuncture and if you absolutely insist on no needles, there are other ways to treat without needles, although I often recommend them depending on your condition. Sometimes we can do without them.
A Practitioner will often palpate gently at the pain site and on the legs and arms to find what we call ?aushi? points. These are tender spots that correspond to what is going on with you. These spots will be either needles or given some other form of stimulation such as acupressure, cupping, moxa, herbal ointment, electro-stim. Various Chinese herbal formulas may also be prescribed to help with symptoms such as sleep problems, pain, and soreness as needed.

Acupuncture continues to gain popularity in this country because it is an effective treatment of acute and chronic backache. Acute pain can often be cleared up in a few sessions. More treatments may be needed if there is an underlying deficiency, or reoccurring problem, or sciatica.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call anytime, leave a message and I?ll call you back shortly. 520-440-5770
?Copyright 2005 Dr. Rev. Melanie J. Myers L.Ac. O.M.