“How long does it take for acupuncture to work on back pain?”
I have back pain and want to treat it. How long does it take for acupuncture to work on back pain?
22 Answers
Results can be immediate, depending on how chronic it is. Generally, it can reduce pain significantly that lasts a few hours to a few days, and it is cumulative. So the more often you are treated, the better it gets. I treat back patients all day every day, and acupuncture is the best way to get pain relief. I hope that is helpful...
Acupuncture does help back pain. Usually, it takes from 2 to 6 treatments to see the results, because lower back pain has 5 differentiations it might take longer.
It depends on the extent and intensity of back pain. If it is muscular in origin, acupuncture with electric stimulation can work in one or two sessions. If it is a chronic condition, it may take up to 5 sessions. I do not recommend static acupuncture for back pain if acupuncture with stimulation is available and tolerated without contraindications.
~91% of my patients felt relief from back pain either immediately, or within the first two sessions. If the Acupuncturist is skilled and genuine, I would expect similar results. Most say rule of thumb is within 10 treatments, however.
this is a great question. each person's pain is a result of different issues. for some 3 treatments will do the trick others will need to have 10-15 treatments for the pain to disappear.
It all depends on how long you've had it, what the cause is, your overall health picture and the frequency of the treatment. If you've recently hurt it playing pickleball, there's no spine involvement and you are in good health, you could get lasting relief if you go 2-3 times a week, for 2 weeks. On the otherhand, if you've had the issue for years, you have degenerative disc disease and are in poor health, plan for slow , but steady progress over 6-10 weeks if you go at least 2 times a week. You may need additional maintenance visits periodically.
Hi! Sorry to hear about your pain, I like to see results after the first visit, but often it depends on the patient's body and can take a few sessions to notice significant improvement.
Acupuncture is very effective for back pain. Patients usually feel significant relief after the first treatment for 3-4 days . If the pain comes back it is much less than the original pain scale . Then the patient may need 2-3 more treatments to totally alleviate all of the pain.
Generally, one time is effective.
It depends on the severity of the issue.
Usually, - it takes about 5-6 times on average.
Usually, - it takes about 5-6 times on average.
I would love to help. Back pain is treatable with acupuncture but there are several variables as to how long it will take. It depends on how long you have had back pain, what is the severity of the diagnosis and your lifestyle choices. Medicare decided in 2020 to cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain, they start with 12 visits with the possibility of adding on 8 more visits, so approximately 20 visits. Patients that are able to come twice a week will get better faster. It does take time and healing is not linear. Acupuncture is like going to the gym, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. Your body is capable of healing relief for your back pain. I would love the opportunity to help you live well. Please let me know if you have further questions. Dr. Ruth
It depends on many factors. Is this a chronic or acute injury. It there a disk herniation or just a muscle spasm. Any acupuncturist you see should be able to give you a treatment plan after a comprehensive intake and exam.
It depends on how severe the back pain is and whether or not it is chronic. A consultation with an experienced acupuncturist will help answer your questions.
It varies from person to person depending on the severity, cause, and duration of the back pain. But most people feel at least some type of relief early on.
Instantly
It depends sometimes you will have relief after one session. Sometimes you need many.
Very fast. Just a few sessions. Read here: https://philaacupuncture.com/natural-treatment-for-lower-back-pain/
The number of treatments can vary person-to-person. We respond to acupuncture on an individual basis and this is dependent on multiple factors such as our overall health, constitution, how chronic or acute the back pain is age, and many other factors. Generally, for chronic conditions, you will notice some improvement within 6-8 treatments and acute conditions within 4-6.
Relief time varies depending on how long you've had the issue, what your pain level is, what caused the issue, and how often you receive treatment. For mild back pain, many people see relief quickly, whereas with severe back pain or pain that's been in place for months to years, you'd want to give it several weeks of 3 treatments per week to begin to achieve the pain relief you seek. Frequency is reduced as pain subsides, and many people find longer term relief, with perhaps some maintenance visits monthly after the back pain has subsided. Of course, if you have an injury, acupuncture can only temporarily reduce pain, and medical care is likely needed to address any damage or structural challenges. Acupuncture and medical care for back pain can be complementary and useful in achieving a better overall outcome.
I think 3-4 treatments are enough, each session takes 30- 40 minutes.
I see questions like this a lot. As a prospective patient, it's a fair question to ask. The problem is, I don't know why you're having back pain or anything else about your individual presentation. That makes it impossible for me to give you any definitive timeline. You're looking at 4 possibilities:
1. There is somewhere around 5% of the population who do not respond to acupuncture. At all. We don't know why this happens. There's no test anyone can give you in advance to determine if you're in the 5%. Odds are in your favor that you're in the other 95%, but the only way to know for sure is to try acupuncture.
2. In the 95% who do respond, there is a subset who will respond very quickly. I routinely have patients who are experiencing pain reduction/pain relief after the first couple of needles have been inserted. Again, I can't identify these folks upfront, so there's no way to predict if you might be in this group.
3. There's another subset of responders who don't necessarily notice any difference on the day of treatment. The next day, however, their pain is reduced or gone. And, again, there's no way to predict in advance who will be in this group.
4. Finally, there's a subset of people who will respond but it takes several treatments - like 3-5 - before there is a noticeable difference in their pain levels. It's because of these folks that we usually tell prospective patients to give us at least 3 and more like 5 treatments before they decide whether or not acupuncture is working.
This brings me to my best advice for you:
1. Make sure you're seeing an actual acupuncturist. Your provider should, at minimum, be licensed as an L.Ac. or R.Ac. in your state. If you're outside CA, they should also have a national board certification through NCCAOM.
2. Be prepared to attend at least 3 and more 5 treatments before you decide whether or not acupuncture is working.
1. There is somewhere around 5% of the population who do not respond to acupuncture. At all. We don't know why this happens. There's no test anyone can give you in advance to determine if you're in the 5%. Odds are in your favor that you're in the other 95%, but the only way to know for sure is to try acupuncture.
2. In the 95% who do respond, there is a subset who will respond very quickly. I routinely have patients who are experiencing pain reduction/pain relief after the first couple of needles have been inserted. Again, I can't identify these folks upfront, so there's no way to predict if you might be in this group.
3. There's another subset of responders who don't necessarily notice any difference on the day of treatment. The next day, however, their pain is reduced or gone. And, again, there's no way to predict in advance who will be in this group.
4. Finally, there's a subset of people who will respond but it takes several treatments - like 3-5 - before there is a noticeable difference in their pain levels. It's because of these folks that we usually tell prospective patients to give us at least 3 and more like 5 treatments before they decide whether or not acupuncture is working.
This brings me to my best advice for you:
1. Make sure you're seeing an actual acupuncturist. Your provider should, at minimum, be licensed as an L.Ac. or R.Ac. in your state. If you're outside CA, they should also have a national board certification through NCCAOM.
2. Be prepared to attend at least 3 and more 5 treatments before you decide whether or not acupuncture is working.
It usually takes a series of treatments for the body to heal, so I really can't tell you how long it will take to treat your back pain. But it's one of the most common things patients come in for, so follow your practitioner's guidance and you should see the relief that lasts.
