Research carried out in 2002 indicated that almost 80% of the world's population would suffer from some kind of back pain with lower back pain being the most common type. In addition to the high rate of incidence, back pain is also known to have a high rate of recurrence in patients. With patients trying everything from over the counter painkillers to physiotherapy to gain relief from back pain, Acupuncture comes as a welcome change.

Acupuncture is a natural method of treatment that involves no chemicals or surgery. Thin stainless steel needles are inserted into the body at various acupuncture points to stimulate the free flow of Chi or life force through the body. Free flowing Chi results in a healthy and pain free body. Large bodies of research have been able to establish a connection between acupuncture and relief from back pain-especially sciatica.

Sciatica refers to a type of back pain in which the pain radiates from the buttocks down the legs. Sometimes, sciatica pain can also be a consequence of a muscle spasm impinging on the sciatica nerve. Acupuncture can be effectively used to alleviate muscle spasms. The results are almost immediate and can provide relief within minutes.

Back pain is generally caused because muscles that are not frequently exercised and stretched are suddenly put to excessive use. Muscle spasms are common in such cases and result in the individual feeling sore, stiff and a dull ache in the back. Patients suffering from sciatica may even feel a tingling sensation or numbness. This is generally due to the narrowing of the disc space or a disc protrusion in the lumbar region.

Acupuncture is used to improve blood circulation to the entire lumbar region and spinal cord. It relaxes paraspinal muscles and provides relief from muscle spasms. The increased blood flow provides greater nourishment to the discs and increases the elasticity and strengthens the spinal cord. Thus, acupuncture can be extremely effective in reducing back pain symptoms. It is important to remember that different patients respond differently to acupuncture sessions and it can take anywhere between 4-12 sessions to really feel the difference.

Betty Durden is a staff writer for The National Acupuncture Specialists located at http://www.acupuncture-treatment-specialists.com.

I started having back pains a few years ago. The kind that shoot down your leg and make it difficult to walk. The doctors first tried physical therapy and I tried some Chiropractors on my own and nothing seemed to help. I would have occasional relief, but it always seemed to come back. The next thing the doctors did was send me for an MRI. This showed that I had a herniated disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. Their first solution was to inject cortisone into my spine and that's when I started looking for alternatives. I had heard that many people would get these injections that would cover up the pain for a while but then later on they would end up injuring themselves further.

One day, my back tensed up worse than before and I could not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing straight up and walking normal. I was sold. If acupuncture is done right, it is very relaxing and at times I have almost fallen asleep during a session. Please note that acupuncture is actually good for treating many types of aches and pains, not just back pain.

Here is what you can expect from an acupuncture session: You can typically get undressed to a level you are comfortable with. The acupuncturist will then place needles in specific points on your body depending upon your problem areas. These points may or may not be anywhere near your pain. For example, during my sessions for back pain, the acupuncturist has placed needles in my hands, feet, legs and back. The needles they use are very small and each one is individually sealed. Many people may tell you that the needles don't hurt at all, and most of the time that is true. Occasionally, a needle will find a hot spot and it can feel like a fire. Just let the acupuncturist know if it is beyond uncomfortable pain.

Sometimes these hot spots will lead to greater pain relief later on. During my first few sessions for my back pain, my worst hot spot was my right hand; it hurt about as bad as my back did earlier. However, I can walk upright and deal with pain in my hand; not with it my back. I was able to massage my hand and work out the pain so it was definitely worth it. After the needles are in, the acupuncturist will leave and let you relax for 20 to 30 minutes. Depending upon your acupuncturist, they may apply herbs or heat the needles slightly or give a slight twist to the needle. Then the needles come out. You will have to fight the urge to tighten up when they are pulling the needles out. It is better to relax as much as possible and not think about it. Some acupuncturists may also give a slight massage with the acupuncture.

So how am I doing now? Well, it has been over 5 years now, I think, and I never had to have a cortisone shot and never even thought about any kind of surgery. I still have occasional pain and have actually found a Chiropractor that is also a licensed acupuncture provider. He has a table that applies negative pressure to the discs in the spine and helps alleviate any associated pain. I still receive an occasional acupuncture treatment from him as well. Please note that I do not like "cracking" and my chiropractor has not "adjusted" my spine, only stretched it. I think the key to a healthy back with a herniated disc is to provide yourself with the ability to stretch out and strengthen your back without pain. Acupuncture and specific chiropractic treatments can be the way you accomplish this.

Want to see more health topics? Check out the Gotta Get My Info Health Page http://www.gottagetmyinfo.com/health.

About The Author
Deron Van is a software engineer at Intel, he received his bachelor degrees in CIS and marketing from Arizona State University and is the marketing manager at http://www.gottagetmyinfo.com you can email him at deron@gottagetmyinfo.com

If you suffer from severe back pain and fear that surgery may be necessary, or if surgery has been recommended and you question the wisdom of it, you may want to try some non-surgical physical treatments first.

Unless your back pain is due to an infection, malformation of the back, or tumor, some type of physical treatment can probably help it. Let's look at a few of the more popular and effective types of treatment.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be most effective when applied within 2 months of the onset of back pain. Chiropractors realign the spine, increase the range of motion in back muscles, increase the flexibility of spinal soft tissue, break down scar tissue, and reduce pressure from constricted and misaligned spinal joints, all of which help to relieve pain. Usually treatment takes around 15 minutes 3 times a week at first. Over a few weeks sessions decrease until you are on a maintenance program of once a month or even "come come only if it hurts."

Acupuncture

Studies by the National Institutes of Health show that acupuncture is very effective in treating back pain. According to the theory of acupuncture, energy (known as chi) flows through the body along pathways called meridians. If the flow of chi is interrupted, pain or illness can result.

An acupuncturist uses very thin needles inserted into the skin along the meridians to correct the flow of chi. You may be surprised to learn that acupuncture is rarely described as painful. In fact, many people find it relaxing and even fall asleep during treatment.

Physical Therapy

A good physical therapist will combine passive and active treatments, since exercise is essential to the long term imporvement in back pain.

Active therapy involves the patient's participation. The therapist will determine which exercises are best for a particular condition, and supervise you in those exercises to ensure that you are doing them correctly. They will include:

* stretching

* strength building exercises

* aerobic exercise.

Passive therapy is done on you, usually while you are relaxing, and includes:

* heat or cold therapy

* electrical stimulation

* ultrasound

* massage

* iontophoresis (inserting a drug through intact skin using an electric current).

Other Alternatives to Surgery

In addition to these 3 modalities, many other non-surgical treatments exist for back pain, among them massage, and the use of herbs and natural supplements.