Back Pain Treatment With Acupuncture
Acupuncture, a method of treatment used in ancient Chinese medicine has been around for more than 2500 years. It is becoming increasingly common for Western doctors and physicians to recommend this treatment for chronic and/or accidental back or neck pain. There is no general agreement as to how effective this might be but in my opinion this is something worth trying for back pain relief.
This back pain treatment is based on the idea that human body possess twenty energy flow patterns. These patterns are named as meridians or pathways. Qi (chee) is the vital energy/life force that passes via these pathways. This passage of qi is of utmost importance for good health. Any ailment that might come our way is due to some interruption in this flow. There are more than 2000 locations on human body that connect with the pathways. Acupuncture treatment involves insertion of thin needles into some of these 2000 points to improve the flow of qi.
During the treatment the acupuncturist might use about twenty metallic needles, which are inserted in the skin. The needles are twenty times thinner than the hypodermic needles and as compared to an injection their tip is smooth and they are devoid of any sharp edges. This means the insertion of needles is not a painful process at all. One just feels a gentle penetration in their skin and no pain. The level of insertion might vary accordingly to the point on the body where the needle is being inserted. Any insertion on the scalp will be just under the surface and on some other fatty or fleshy area it could be inserted a little deeper. The needles are turned one way or another during the session. This could, for example, be done halfway through the session. The back pain treatment itself is not painful but the most difficult part for back ache sufferers could be lying still for approximately thirty minutes or so.
Like any other method of treatment, all medical practitioners do not agree as to how effective acupuncture is for back pain. Also, there is no proof otherwise that acupuncture helps in pain reduction. But it is a treatment that is suggested by medical experts for pain relief. People, who have tried it, do feel more relaxed and experience increased energy. So it could be the theory of qi as well as meridians that works or it could biological changes such as the stimulation of the central nervous system, resulting from the treatment that helps with pain management. Whatever the reasons might be, for backache sufferer this is one method worth trying.