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Lower back pain is a common condition that affects approximately 4 million Australians and can have a significant impact on daily life and overall health. Lower back pain is something that we take an interest in at AcuHealth Therapies and Dr Sharlane Aldover has been utlising acupuncture for back pain with patients managing this condition for over 15 years.
Dr Sharlane works with patients in Melbourne who are managing chronic back pain time and also patients that may have short term back pain due to an injury.
Chronic back pain can start to affect mental health when it impacts on the ability to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities. A sense of frustration or hopelessness can set in if the chronic pain persists with no improvement in sight.
At AcuHealth Therapies we tailor treatment plans with both the physical and mental aspects taken into account.
Acupuncture is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine in which sterile needles are inserted into certain parts of the body. According to Chinese medicine philosophy, meridians are channels that run throughout the body and obstructions along these channels can manifest as bodily pain and discomfort.
Acupuncture therapies look to remove obstructions from these channels and rebalance the body to a state of positive energy flow (called Qi).
The symptoms of lower back pain can vary from dull muscle aches, to sharp or burning sensations and these aches or pains can extend pain and discomfort to the legs in the form of sciatica.
Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons including:
Risk factors for back pain include:
Age – back pain becomes more common as we advance in age
Weight – excess weight can place additional strain on the spine and back muscles
Lifestyle – lack of exercise or poor posture
Occupation – job that involves lifting heavy objects
Stress – increased muscle tension caused by stress can cause back pain
Acute low back pain – present for less than 6 weeks
Subacute low back pain – present for 6 to 12 weeks
Chronic low back pain – persisting for more than 12 weeks
At Acuhealth therapies we take a special interest in acupuncture for lower back pain and sciatica and have worked with many patients to support them with chronic back pain or back pain that is caused by a one-off incident such as an injury from lifting or playing sport.
As mentioned above, acupuncture is based on maintaining free flow of Qi across meridian channels. When there is stagnation or blockage, which can lead to pain,, we needle particular acupuncture points to help remove that stagnation.
Following an initial consultation to discuss your history of back pain and any contributing factors, Dr Sharlane will tailor a treatment plan that will involve inserting sterile acupuncture needles into specific parts of the body.
Dr Sharlane will also assess the specific locations of the body where pain is occurring.
Then you will be positioned comfortably on a treatment table and needles will be inserted into appropriate areas of the body. The needles will stay in place for 25-30 minutes.
A 2013 study concluded that current evidence is encouraging in that acupuncture may be more effective than medication for symptom improvement or to relieve pain
A study conducted in 2015 suggested that “acupuncture is more clinically effective in pain relief and functional improvement than no treatment at short-term follow-up… acupuncture as an adjunct to conventional therapy provides short-term clinically relevant improvements in pain and functional measures for the treatment of chronic low back pain.”
Cupping and massage may also be incorporated into the treatment plan, depending on your symptoms.
At AcuHealth Therapies Dr Sharlane takes a special interest in musculoskeletal disorders and back pain. Over many years she has observed that acupuncture for back pain may provide pain relief and be a long-term pain management strategy, research conducted in 2017 also points to this.
Acupuncture for back pain is a natural and holistic therapy with very minimal side effects and does not involve ingesting any medication
According to Chinese medicine philosophy, acupuncture can rebalance the body’s energy and remove obstructions to positive energy flow.
This may depend on the specifics and severity of your back pain. If it’s pain related to a recent incident and you have no history of back pain, then you might only require 2-3 sessions before symptoms alleviate.
If you have chronic back pain and require help with ongoing pain management then a longer term treatment plan may be necessary to effectively manage symptoms.
Dr Sharlane will tailor a plan for each patient and will get to know you and your health background so that she can provide you with the best possible support when managing your back pain symptoms.
