Despite the fact that acupuncture may not always provide long term relief, it is accepted that it may often be a source of relief from the immediate symptoms of back pain and sciatica. Really acupuncture should be viewed as being a method of alleviating pain and not thought to be a cure. However it should be remembered that pain relief even without a cure is valuable. It is essential for those who are experiencing serious discomfort or worse, and pain relief in itself may create a helpful climate for a cure by other means.
Acupuncture is now well known and accepted in the west although it is regarded generally as a Chinese therapy. It has been practised by the Chinese for several millennia and has enjoyed considerable success although it has not been claimed by them to be an absolute cure. The fundamentals of the therapy are simple. Sterile thin needles are inserted into the body at strategic places and the practitioner then moves them so as to create the necessary stimulus.
The acupuncture positions are not easy to locate, but are important and so require experience on the part of the therapist. Traditional Chinese medicine relate the acupuncture points to theories of yin and yang upon which the effectiveness of the treatment is explained. However it is most likely that the needles when inserted into the skin help to relieve pain by stimulating the bodies own pain relief mechanisms.
It is generally accepted that in the context of back and sciatica, acupuncture does not amount to a cure. Also it does not always work and there are those for whom it is ineffective. But there are very good grounds for believing that it will probably be a means of giving relief for back related problems. Another point to be considered is that the pain relief is normally longer lasting than typical pain relieving drugs available on prescription. Prescription drugs for pain relief will usually have to be taken again within a few hours. Acupuncture has been shown to have a much better effect and this is a great advantage apart, from the fact also that there is no risk of addiction with acupuncture.
Assuming the acupuncture to work for the particular patient, there is then a realistic chance that the easing of pain achieved will in itself lead to better mobility and this will then encourage a cure naturally. It should be added though, that if the acupuncture treatment does not bring about an indirect improvement as described, then probably future treatments by the therapist will be necessary, perhaps as frequently in some cases as every week. This may prove too costly for some.
Safety and hygiene is an essential for the proper use of acupuncture. The needles should always be sterile and are specifically used only once. If undergoing treatment you should expect that the needles will be in sterile unopened packaging before the therapist starts. You will see that the needles are very thin and for this reason you are unlikely to have any sensation of pain as they are inserted into your skin.
In the past the question has been asked as to whether acupuncture does indeed have the pain relief effect that is claimed. Are the claims for the treatment based on an nothing more than the placebo effect? Inevitably where there is incomplete understanding as to how a treatment may achieve its results doubts may be raised about it. It will be reassuring to know that clinical tests have been able to confirm that acupuncture is a genuine means of pain relief for those suffering from back and sciatica pain. And in comparison with the placebo effect, acupuncture has a much higher success rate.
The difficulty with acupuncture remains that as explained it does not amount to a cure. It may help bring about a cure but not always and repeat visits to the therapist may be required. In terms of pain relief then, acupuncture is well worth trying and it may lead to something better. However anyone suffering from back related problems, for example matters such as a slipped disc, which clearly are not going to be put right just by acupuncture, will wish also to address the underlying problem and to see what can be done to correct the malfunction that has brought it about.
Finally do bear in mind that acupuncture should only be given by those who are fully qualified. This is not something to try at home! And nor should acupuncture be tried by anyone who has a problem with bleeding or a blood disorder. Always consult your medical practitioner before undertaking acupuncture.
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