Acupuncture best therapy for back pain

I have discussed in the previous posts that acupuncture is more effective than conventional treatment for pregnancy back pain, that acupuncture relieves lower back pain long-term and that you don’t even necessarily need the needles, acupressure for back pain alone is more effective than conventional therapies.

Now scientists from Germany have clearly spelled out that acupuncture is almost twice as effective as conventional treatment. And that the effect of treatment lasts for at least 6 months. This news has generated a lot of publicity from media worldwide, but not much in New Zealand.
Interestingly, none of the previous research got so much attention as this.

Reference: Archives of Internal Medicine

Acupressure for back pain

Acupuncture relieves low back pain long-term

“Our new data provides a significant step forward in treating chronic pain and managing depression” Professor MacPherson

In a recent study, Professor MacPherson and his team explored the impact of acupuncture for back pain on 241 individuals. Their findings suggest that acupuncture not only offers short-term relief but can also provide lasting benefits.

“If you offer acupuncture to someone with back pain, on average, they are likely to experience sustained benefits—not just in the short term but particularly over the long term, up to 24 months,” said MacPherson.

This is a striking discovery, as most treatments tend to lose effectiveness over time. MacPherson emphasised: “It’s remarkable to see lasting improvements, where you would typically expect the benefits of treatment to diminish.”

The study compared standard care, which included medication, physiotherapy, and exercise, with the addition of 10 acupuncture sessions over three months. Throughout the two-year study, patient satisfaction and pain levels were closely monitored. While there was little difference between the two groups after three months, subtle improvements were observed in the acupuncture group by the 12-month mark.

By 24 months, the gap between the two groups had widened, with the acupuncture group showing greater improvement.

“This is the first study to show such a progressive difference over two years, which makes it quite unique,” MacPherson noted.

Additionally, a cost-analysis revealed that acupuncture is a cost-effective option. The cost of treatment for each patient receiving acupuncture was £460 (NZD $863) compared to £345 (NZD $647) for standard care. The modest increase in cost is justified by the long-term benefits reported by patients.

This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting acupuncture as a valuable and effective treatment for chronic pain management, offering patients not only relief but also hope for lasting results.

 

Fibromyalgia :: Acupuncture effectively relieves pain, anxiety and tiredness

Fibromyalgia is a disabling disorder. It is characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and symptoms. It’s often keeps company with fatigue, joint stiffness, memory and concentration problems, anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors that affect the way the nervous system processes pain signals.  No cure is known and available, most of the treatments are only partially effective.

Researchers are often turning their heads to time-tested acupuncture when there is no pharmacological option available. A dedicated team of researchers from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine embarked on an adventure to test the hypothesis that acupuncture could improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. They designed a study where patients would either receive true acupuncture or simulated acupuncture, serving as the control group. And prior to the study, all the participants had tried numerous other treatments without success.

The team of researchers were pleasantly surprised that acupuncture significantly improved fibromyalgia symptoms compared to the control group. And not only pain. Among other symptoms, fatigue and anxiety were also greatly reduced.

Acupuncture may be a complication-free form of pain relief for patients with fibromyalgia, say Mayo Clinic researchers.

This study affirms a lot of clinical impressions that this complementary medical technique is helpful for patients.

Learn more about pain relief with acupuncture.