Acupuncture-lower back pain

[Zoigal]

Anyone here with chronic lower back pain ever try
acupuncture for relief? If so, was it helpful?..thanks, zoigal

[Liberty Belle]

1. It helped me after a car accident with back pain

and also helped my daughter with a knee injury. Didn't hurt a bit; with a good accupuncturist you don't feel most of the needles go in, and at worst it's no worse than a quick prick - the needles are the width of hairs, nothing like the needles you get for shots. Find a Chinese acupuncturist if you can -- they tend to have the most training, experience, and cultural knowledge that's applicable.

[Gregorian]

2. Yes. No.

The answer to 20+ years of lower back pain has been several long hard years of stretching, isometrics, and gym work. I'm now totally free. The answer is core strength. But not many people have the will nor desire to do what it takes.

One place I started was with Sam Visnic's program. The guy is a top notch physical therapist who has a short series of stretches and isometrics. He has a cd that's 100 bucks that's well worth it.

http://endyourbackpainnow.com/blog/

Good luck.


I should add that the guy who did my accupuncture and accupressure lived in China for many years learning his profession. One of the best. Everyone's different. But 99% of the problem is...look at that website. It's all there.

[sunwyn]

4. Thanks for this....after 3 months of moving and rehabing a house,

my back is killing me again. I can really use the exercises this guy recommends.

[Gregorian]

6. It takes a lot of time.

After a year and a half of doing the program, I can say that it does get easier. I've also added some routines of my own, and those prescribed by a local PT.

I would say I'm spending 4 hours per day doing this. And in the beginning it was agony. But along the way something happened. At 55 years old I am now in the best shape I've ever been in. And I used to be a roofer.

He doesn't mention crunches. I think he only says not to do "situps". Those are not good for you. But the crunches help with core strength.

Now if only I can roll back time and get my energy back. I'm strong, but tired. I've got other areas to work on. I think it's sinus/nasal/sleep apnea. I hate getting old. But I think there are solutions to almost all of our problems. Ones that do not include surgery.

By the way, I'll post my daily routine here. I don't know if it even makes sense. I'm copying from my text file. The roller is a foam roller. Check out youtube for the use.





Roller
Pigeon pose
Pullups


Kneeling hip
Butterfly
Calf
Hamstring
Prayer stretch l/r 1 min

Pushups

Crunches

On back, one leg up 10 sec. x 15

hands and knees (Bird Dog), opposite arm, leg planks 20 sec x10 x2

BETTER THAN BIRD DOG----get off your knees. Hold a real push position. It will strengthen your arms.
Make sure to use abdominal muscles to tuck under your hips or you will get no core exercise. Hold a good pushup position.
Lift one leg without letting your spine sag. To advance, hold this same position and lift one arm straight out in front of you.
Don't drop your head or hunch your shoulder. Use your muscles to hold you as straight as if you were standing.

On stomach, back up 1min x2
On elbows, plank 1min
On side, plank 1 min

Rope on ankle, lying side of bed, pull up toward back 1 min

Gym-
Wood chop x20
Kiss bicep x20

Pushups

Crunches (THIS IS ADVISED AGAINST BY DRBOOKSPAN.) Isometric Abs-Lie face up, arms overhead on floor, biceps by your ears.
Press your lower back toward the floor
Pullup
Pushup

Squats (roller against wall)





Two more given by pt-

lying on back pulling arms apart with rubber band
standing with weight attached to ankle moving leg outward toward side. 12 pounds? It takes pulleys to get weight at ankle.

[mahina]

3. Off topic but my water aerobics teacher is a physical therapist and said that

stretching the hamstrings helps w lower back pain, that the hamstrings are often causes of that pain.

Good luck!

[Gregorian]

7. Second on the hamstrings.

I had knee pain from hours of biking every day. The hamstring stretches made a huge difference. I can climb stairs without pain now.

It takes a bit of research to hunt and pick out the best stretches and planks for a whole program.

[HuckleB]

5. Perhaps of interest...

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/acupuncture-does-not-work-for-back-pain/

and...

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/01/can_we_finally_just_say_that_acupuncture.php

[Zoigal]

8. Thanks, everyone, for your input....z

[mzteris]

9. some believe

that acupuncture is nothing but fraud, or at best a placebo...

Maybe it IS a placebo. . . but it's a damn good one.

YMMV.

I would try it if I were you and make your own decision. You can do the exercises as well to strengthen your back, but in the meantime, why suffer? (Oh, and not all acupuncturists are created equal. Meaning, you might get a dud on your first try - ask around your area for recommendations.)

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HuckleB]

12. It has nothing to do with "belief."

The evidence is very clear. Acupuncture is nothing more than an elaborate and expensive placebo.

[CanSocDem]

14. Feeling "superior" again....????

Do you even know what a "belief" is...??

Your frantic efforts to elevate your own "belief" in the medical industry are becoming quite bizarre.

.

[HuckleB]

15. Thanks for the baseless projection and silly propaganda.

Got anything else to offer besides misplaced anger and feigned superiority?

[HuckleB]

11. Another Systematic Review Shows Acupuncture is No More Effective Than Placebo

http://sciencebasedlife.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/another-systematic-review-shows-acupuncture-is-no-more-effective-than-placebo/

[Crunchy Frog]

13. I may at some point in the future.

Right now I do okay with Meloxicam, and drinking tart cherry juice from time to time.

I'm guessing, though, that my back problems will get worse as I get older.