Many people seek acupuncture for pain conditions. While pain can occur in every part of the body, back pain is one of the more common issues that we see in our patients. Working adults (ages 18 to 64) represent 63% of the population and account for 72% of all low back pain (LBP) health care visits. Low back pain has been identified categorically as acute, subacute, or chronic, depending on the onset, duration, and severity. Risk factors have included occupational posture, depressive moods, obesity, gender, and age, and risk is most likely affected by a combination of several of these variables. The back covers a huge area, starting from just below the neck all the way to the tailbone. This area can be further divided into three segments, namely the upper back (connecting to the neck), mid-back and lower back (connecting to the hip, tailbone, and buttocks. It is important to identify the location of back pain as the causes of pain, treatment given as well as advice for rehabilitation would vary accordingly. Acupuncture may help improve quality of life as well as reduce lost workplace productivity through more effective and sustained pain relief
Sciatica is compression of the sciatic nerve which results in pain radiating down the back or side of the leg. It is commonly caused by nerve root compression at various levels in the spine or inflammation in the sciatic nerve itself. Sciatica usually causes discomfort along the nerve’s pathway (from your lower back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf). While some people feel mild pain, others experience a sharp, burning sensation, often becoming worse when coughing or sneezing. Some report numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.
Acupuncture works by relaxing tight muscles, improving blood
circulation, regulating the nervous system, and releasing
neurotransmitters to reduce pain. Acupuncture is an effective
treatment for sciatica without the side effects of prescription pain
medications like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and
muscle relaxers. It is also a safe, non-surgical treatment option
that can relieve sciatica pain. One systematic review of acupuncture
for sciatica found that acupuncture improved sciatica symptoms
better than NSAID treatment. Acupuncture also helps enhance the
effects of medications that may be prescribed for sciatica so it can
help reduce the dosage and mitigate the side effects
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4631886/