Back Pain and Acupuncture

Back pain can affect anyone at any age and most people will suffer from it at some point in their lives. It is the UK’s leading cause of disability and one of the main reasons for work-related sickness absence.

The condition affects more than 1.1 million people in the UK, with 95% of patients suffering from problems affecting the lower back. Back pain currently costs the NHS and community care services more than £1 billion each year. Most lower back pain is caused not by serious damage or disease, but by sprains, muscle strains, minor injuries, or a pinched or irritated nerve. It can also occur during pregnancy, or because of stress, viral infection or a kidney infection.

Back pain is the reason I found acupuncture, I was told by a friend that a racehorse had acupuncture treatment and raced again. As I was a runner I wanted to get back to running again. Well actually I wanted to be able to stand for more than a few minutes without back hurting, my pain was so bad it was changing my life. I was only in my early 20’s and felt my future was grim. I did not have a major injury; it was mostly muscle spasm and tension. Traditional five element put this right for me. I was so enthused by how the treatment had helped me I went to the open day at the College of Traditional acupuncture UK an internationally renowned college just 10 miles away from where I lived in Stratford–on–Avon. The rest is history;- a decision I will never regret.

I treat many patients with back pain for many reasons many are spasm and muscle tension, there can be problems with the vertebra where nerves are affected, causing pain and sciatica. Pain can be from top to bottom of the spine, the pain can spread causing headaches, neck and shoulder pain, leg and hip pain and down to the feet. The back affects all of you.

Back pain can come in pregnancy and can be treated; traditional five element acupuncture is safe to have during pregnancy if performed by a trained traditional acupuncturist. As there are points to be avoided at certain times of pregnancy.

Anxiety can be the cause or effect of back pain, yes emotional pain can cause physical pain, no it is not all in your head!

I work with patients who have had back surgery, helping with recovery.

I work with patients who have chronic back problems – reducing the crisis they have when their back ‘goes’. I found on most occasions that if someone with chronic back pain live a better life with traditional five element acupuncture treatments every 4-6 weeks, reducing the need for pain medication and reducing crisis times.

I enjoy helping patients live their life again not letting back pain rule it.

If I have any doubts that the back pain needs further investigation I will advise my patients to go and see their GP. I have encouraged many people to get investigations into their back problems and supporting them through this process.

‘I have been going to Southwell Acupuncture for several years. Hannah treats everything from A-Z. I first went with a back problem several years ago and was in a lot of pain. If it hadn’t been for Hannah I wouldn’t be where I am today. It was in conversations during treatments that Hannah gave me the confidence and made me realize it’s my body and I have the right to find out the cause of all my pain was. So after a hospital visit for trigger point injections, I told my consultant the pain was now affecting my legs and was really worrying me and that I really thought I should have imagining as I knew there was something wrong. As he seemed worried about my leg and back pain still being bad he agreed to an MRI. It was right to fight for the scan as it appeared I had 2 slipped discs. If it wasn’t for Hannah I wouldn’t have known what the problem was and would have still been having injections today. I highly recommend Hannah and all that is left to say is a huge thank you and I will see you soon xx’ Marie B