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Having Back Pain? Try Acupuncture! – Part 1
Are you experiencing pain in your upper, middle or lower back? Is that pain affecting your quality of life? Have you been taking over the counter or prescription pain medication without getting any significant and long lasting relief? Are you interested in treating your back pain naturally and holistically?
At Above & Beyond Acupuncture, we treat a variety of aches and pains, and we have found that back pain is one of the most common pain that patients seek treatment for. Due to how many people suffer with back pain, we want to provide you with some helpful information and discuss how effective acupuncture can be in providing relief without the use of any type of medication.
How common is back pain?
Almost everyone has experienced some form of back pain in their life, or at least knows someone who is currently experiencing pain or discomfort in their back. The American Spinal Decompression Association (ASDA) states that low back pain affects around 80% of the population at some point in a person’s life. They estimate that roughly 20-30% of the population will be experiencing some form of back pain at any given time. [Link] Those percentages indicate that millions of Americans are suffering with back pain at this very moment!
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has provided information that exemplifies how common and serious back pain is. Here are some of the statistics they posted: [Link]
• Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010.
• 50% of all working Americans report having back pain each year.
• In the workplace, back pain is one of the most common reasons for employee absenteeism.
• Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
• Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain.
What are some common causes of back pain?
There are many possible causes of back pain; we want to provide you with a few of the more common ways this type of pain can take place.
The Mayo Clinic posts the following conditions that cause back pain: muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured discs, arthritis, skeletal irregularities and osteoporosis. [Link]
Other causes of back pain include: torn discs, diabetes, pinched nerves, anxiety, stress, poor posture, overexertion, fatigue, excessive lifting or bending over, poor physical condition, old age, being overweight/obese and/ or smoking.
Can acupuncture help relieve back pain?
Acupuncture, which is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used for thousands of years to treat numerous ailments including aches and pains. Millions of people worldwide have successfully benefited from this natural medicine in obtaining relief from back pain, thereby avoiding the need for medications and possibly invasive or even dangerous surgery.
There have been many studies done on the efficacy of using acupuncture to treat back pain. Many of these studies have produced significant and supporting results exemplifying that it can provide true relief. The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study that provided verifiable proof that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option. [Link]
In part 2 of this series, we will discuss who you should receive acupuncture from to treat back pain, as well as how acupuncture can provide relief.
If you are suffering with back pain and are located in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe or Mesa area(s), come on down to Above & Beyond Acupuncture. Call us or schedule an appointment through our website. We are ready to help you feel better!
