Back and Hip Pain

Understanding What Is Causing the Pain

Lower back pain may involve tight muscles, muscle spasms, irritated nerves, sciatica, herniated or bulging discs, arthritis, spinal stenosis or a combination of these problems. A muscle spasm can make it hard to straighten up or get out of a chair, while an irritated nerve may cause burning, tingling or shooting pain into the buttock or down the leg. Sciatica often brings tightness along the side of the hip and upper thigh, where the sciatic nerve runs, and can limit how far you can lift or move the leg.

At the first visit, Joshua asks where the pain begins, whether it travels, and what makes it better or worse. He also uses orthopedic tests such as the straight leg raise, along with reflex and muscle testing, to see how much of the problem involves muscle, nerve or disc.

How Acupuncture May Help

Acupuncture is used as part of a conservative approach to help reduce pain, decrease muscle tension and guarding, calm irritated nerves and improve function. It is thought to increase blood flow to the lower back, influence the nerves that carry pain signals, and prompt the body to release its own pain-relieving substances and endorphins. For lumbar spinal stenosis, Joshua may target the deep multifidus muscle along the spine and use light electrical stimulation on the needles, followed by a hands-on stretch of the muscle.

Acupuncture cannot push a herniated disc back into place, remove bone or reverse arthritis. Progressive leg weakness, new bowel or bladder problems, numbness in the groin area, or fever with severe back pain need prompt medical attention.

What a Course of Care Looks Like

One treatment is usually not enough to judge how much someone may improve. With severe pain, relief at first may last a few hours to a few days, and it tends to last longer as treatment continues. Joshua often recommends more frequent visits at the start, such as two or three times a week, and fewer visits as the pain settles. Disc problems and long-standing pain generally take longer than a recent muscle spasm. Progress is measured by more than the pain score, including whether you can walk farther, sit longer and sleep better.

Self-Care Tips

• Try not to wait until the pain returns to its original level before your next treatment.
• Identify activities that keep aggravating your back, such as certain lifts or long periods of sitting or standing, and cut back on them while you heal.
• Stretch your back regularly to keep the muscles from shortening.