Lok Acupuncture Clinic In Las Vegas Can Treat Your Back Pain

While you might not think of it that way, the spine is the largest continuous collection of joints in the human body. Each vertebra must be in the right position to move freely and allow you to bend, straighten or twist. When something goes wrong with the myriad moving parts, the result is back pain. Luckily, chronic back pain often responds to acupuncture. Here’s what you need to know about back pain treatment, courtesy of Lok Acupuncture Clinic, acupuncturist Las Vegas.

Back Pain

Occasional back pain is very common among American adults and even some children. For many people, that pain becomes chronic and the condition is the second most common reason for doctor’s visits (upper respiratory infections lead the pack). Back pain symptoms can vary from a mild ache to severe debilitating pain. It may include muscle spasms. In some cases, patients report the sensation of electric shocks in the back and legs or pain that travels down one leg or the other. Chronic back pain causes people to lose work, affects their ability to perform daily activities and can lead to other problems such as depression.

Back Pain Causes

Back pain can occur anywhere in the spine, although the lower back is the most common location. Both adults and children can suffer from back pain. Heavy lifting, poor posture, injuries, and poor body mechanics can all contribute to back pain. The most common causes include:

  • Torn or pulled muscle or ligament
  • Herniated (ruptured) disc
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Facet joint dysfunction
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
  • Joint misalignment or subluxation
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Spinal deformities like scoliosis
  • Vertebral fractures from osteoporosis
  • Tumors, infections and autoimmune diseases – these are unusual.

Back Pain Treatment

Back pain often responds to what is called conservative – non-surgical – therapy. Acupuncture is a back pain treatment that many people find effective, especially for chronic pain. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting small thin needles into specific areas called trigger points or acupoints. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the treatment restores the flow of energy, or Qi, which improves function and relieves pain. No one knows exactly how acupuncture works. Theories include changing the electromagnetic signals in the nerves, triggering the release of certain chemicals or natural opioids, or changing the brain chemistry. Whatever the mechanism, research has shown that acupuncture is as effective as standard back pain treatment in many cases.

Contact Our Acupuncturist Today

At Lok Acupuncture Clinic, your acupuncturist Las Vegas, we offer traditional acupuncture as well as cupping, heat therapy and electro-acupuncture. We can also make lifestyle recommendations and give you advice about supplements that can help relieve your pain and restore your health. Please call us today at (702) 732-0178. We are located at 1818 E. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV.