Why Acupuncture is So Effective for Relieving Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common sources of pain, with nearly 40% of adults in the United Stated reporting back pain in 2019 (1). Pain can be classified as either acute or chronic. Acute pain results from skeletal muscle spasm or inflammation at the site of injury, and frequently resolves on its own within a few weeks. Chronic pain is pain that continues after the initial injury has healed and can last for weeks, months, or years. Most of us Coloradans who lead an active lifestyle have some nagging pain from injuries we experienced years ago. Although there is some sensory “input” from the tissues, pain is primarily an “output” from the brain. Regardless of the type of back pain you are experiencing, acupuncture can help!

person about to get acupuncture for back pain in Lafayette Colorado

When you experience back pain, it is tempting to hope that if you just pop a couple of painkillers and rest, it will go away on its own. However, both opioids and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen have their drawbacks. A review study published in 2016 (2) found that opioids at recommended doses were not effective for low back pain, and opioid addiction and overdose are a major problem in the United States. Even over-the-counter NSAIDs increase the risk of heart attacks and gastrointestinal issues (3). Due to these side effects and the development of tolerance, meaning you will have to take more pills to have the same results, painkillers are not an ideal long-term solution for pain management.

Acupuncture is very effective for treating pain, and multiple studies have shown improvement in reported pain levels and even changes in brain areas associated with pain and tactile acuity (how well your brain is able to map a body part) (4,5). The insertion of these tiny needles causes the release of multiple substances that reduce pain, including endogenous (produced by your body) opioids, acetylcholine (one of the major neurotransmitters in your brain and muscles), adenosine (a neurotransmitter involved in relaxation), and dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter) (6).  Acupuncture can provide a safe and effective alternative to pharmaceutical options for pain.

Now that you know acupuncture will help your back pain, why should you come to Wild Blue Acupuncture & Wellness? We do a thorough evaluation and assessment of your health history and body mechanics including range of motion, manual muscle testing and, if needed, special orthopedic tests to determine the root cause of your pain. Often we find muscles that are inhibited, or not doing their job properly, which can lead to pain and dysfunction. We reactivate these muscles using acupuncture motor points and then retest to make sure they are working again. We then work on releasing any tight muscles using various techniques including electroacupuncture, trigger point acupuncture (dry needling), cupping, manual therapy or IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), and kinesiology taping (RockTape). For acute back pain you should notice improvement within the first few treatments, however due to the nature of chronic pain it may take longer and you might need to have regular treatments to maintain any improvements. Regardless of where your back pain is stemming from, we’re confident that we can help you find lasting, effective relief. If we don’t feel that acupuncture is a great fit for your situation, we will be up front and honest with our recommendation. If you’d like to relieve your back pain for good in the Boulder/Lafayette area, please reach out!

  1. Lucas, J. W., Connor, E. M., & Bose, J. (2021, July 29). Products - data briefs - number 415 - July 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db415.htm 

  2. Abdel Shaheed, C., Maher, C. G., Williams, K. A., Day, R., & McLachlan, A. J. (2016). Efficacy, Tolerability, and Dose-Dependent Effects of Opioid Analgesics for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(7), 958–968. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1251

  3. Bally, M., Dendukuri, N., Rich, B., Nadeau, L., Helin-Salmivaara, A., Garbe, E., & Brophy, J. M. (2017). Risk of acute myocardial infarction with NSAIDs in real world use: bayesian meta-analysis of individual patient data. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 357, j1909–13. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1909

  4. Wen, Q., Ma, P., Dong, X., Sun, R., Lan, L., Yin, T., Qu, Y., Liu, Y., Xiao, Q., & Zeng, F. (2021). Neuroimaging studies of acupuncture on low back pain: A systematic review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.730322 

  5. Kim, H., Mawla, I., Lee, J., Gerber, J., Walker, K., Kim, J., Ortiz, A., Chan, S.-T., Loggia, M. L., Wasan, A. D., Edwards, R. R., Kong, J., Kaptchuk, T. J., Gollub, R. L., Rosen, B. R., & Napadow, V. (2020). Reduced tactile acuity in chronic low back pain is linked with structural neuroplasticity in primary somatosensory cortex and is modulated by acupuncture therapy. NeuroImage, 217, 116899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116899 

  6. Chen, T., Zhang, W. W., Chu, Y.-X., & Wang, Y.-Q. (2020). Acupuncture for pain management: Molecular Mechanisms of Action. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 48(04), 793–811. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x20500408