Scientific studies have indicated that sham acupuncture works just as well as real acupuncture for back pain. In a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, compared the effectiveness of acupuncture with the use of a placebo.
They found that acupuncture was more effective than the placebo in relieving pain in patients with chronic low-back pain, and that both treatments were equally effective in reducing the pain of patients who had experienced a previous episode of back surgery. The researchers concluded that “acupuncture appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from chronic pain.”
The study was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Table of Contents
How often should you do acupuncture for back pain?
Treatments can be scheduled twice weekly for several weeks, and then once a week as the back pain improves. The benefits of treatment can last for up to three months. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in acupuncture needles, you should not use them.
How long does it take for acupuncture to work for pain?
If you were in the acupuncture clinic for acute pain or sports injury, you may notice the pain relief almost instantly from the first treatment. It can take up to 2 or 3 sessions to notice the difference. The answer depends on the type of pain and how severe it is.
If you have a chronic condition, such as arthritis or diabetes, your pain may not respond as well to acupuncture as it does to other types of treatments. Also, if you are taking a medication that has an anti-inflammatory effect (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin), the effect of acupuncture may be lessened.
Can back pain get worse after acupuncture?
Sometimes your first acupuncture treatment will be more painful than your following treatments. It is possible that certain energy points on your body are being activated for the first time. If you’re having trouble with your pain, you may want to talk to your doctor. They may be able to help you find a treatment that works for you.
How do you know if acupuncture is working?
The needles are not hollow and are much thinner than medical needles. The needles may cause some muscle sensations, such as dull ache or tingling. Your practitioner will ask you to report when you feel a deep heaviness or numbness. The sensations mean that the treatment is working. If you have any questions about acupuncture, talk to your practitioner.
How long do the effects of acupuncture last?
Various studies have concluded that acupuncture offers long-term benefits for a variety of conditions, including chronic pain. Some will experience benefits for a few months, while others will experience benefits for a year or more. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide range of medical conditions.
Is one acupuncture session enough?
It usually takes more than one treatment to get the desired effect, and it usually requires multiple sessions. In some cases, multiple sessions may be required. Acupuncture works by stimulating the meridians, or points on the body, that carry pain signals to the brain. These points are located at the base of the spine, between the vertebrae, and are called meridian points.
When acupuncture needles are inserted into these points, the needles stimulate the nerves in the spinal cord to send pain messages to your brain, which then sends the message to other parts of your body that are affected by the pain, such as your muscles and joints. This process is called “acupressure,” and it is the basis of acupuncture treatment for a variety of conditions, including back pain and arthritis.
Should doctors recommend acupuncture for pain?
We still have no clear mechanism of action, insufficient evidence for clinically worthwhile benefit, and possible harms after decades of research and hundreds of acupuncture pain trials. Doctors shouldn’t recommend acupuncture for pain relief.
Can acupuncture make pain worse before it gets better?
Sometimes following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better. An increase in heart rate and blood pressure is a more common result. This is usually temporary and usually goes away within a few days.
Some people also have a burning sensation in their hands and feet after the needle is inserted into the skin. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You may need to stop the treatment for a while to see if they go away.
What happens after first acupuncture treatment?
People tend to feel more relaxed after a treatment. Better sleep, digestion, and an overall sense of well-being are possible after the days following. Some patients report having a deeper, more intense effect in the days and weeks following the treatment, which can last up to a year.