Sciatica Relief With Acupuncture

Sciatica can be debilitating and acupuncture can help. Sciatic pain radiates along the sciatic nerve from the lower back down to the legs. While conventional treatments include medications, physical therapy and sometimes surgery, acupuncture can be highly effective for managing sciatica.

Acupuncture points are selected along the meridians associated with the sciatic nerve, aiming to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and improve nerve function.

Treatment typically involves multiple sessions with acupuncture needles inserted at points in the lower back, hips and legs. These points are chosen based on the patient's specific symptoms.

Benefits of Acupuncture for Sciatica

1. Pain Relief:

   A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Pain Medicine found that acupuncture significantly reduces pain intensity in sciatica patients compared to sham acupuncture and conventional treatments (1).

2. Improved Functionality:

   Research published in The Journal of Pain indicates that acupuncture not only alleviates pain but also improves physical function and mobility, helping patients return to their daily activities more comfortably (2).

3. Reduced Inflammation:

   Acupuncture has been shown to decrease inflammation by modulating the immune response and reducing inflammatory markers, as reported in a study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine(3).

4. Enhanced Quality of Life:

   A study in Acupuncture in Medicine demonstrated that patients receiving acupuncture for sciatica experienced significant improvements in their overall quality of life, including better sleep and reduced stress levels (4).

Acupuncture offers a natural, non-pharmacological approach to managing sciatica. By reducing pain, improving functionality, decreasing inflammation and enhancing quality of life, acupuncture can be a valuable treatment for sciatica sufferers. If you are struggling with sciatica, book a new patient here and explore how this ancient practice can support your path to recovery.

References

1. Chen N, Zhou M, He L, et al. Acupuncture for sciatica. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12)

2. Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474.

3. Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, et al. Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain. Anesthesiology. 2014;120(2):482-503.

4. Yuan J, Purepong N, Kerr DP, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain: A systematic review. Spine. 2008;33(23)