Back Pain
Orient Medicine Acupuncture & Massage Clinic
at Downtown Calgary Tower Professional Centre
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Back Pain
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Located downtown Calgary. Registered Acupuncturist. Member of Alberta Association of Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors.
Please pardon our Chinese English,
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What causes low back pain?Low Back Pain may has it origins from organs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, bones or discs or in combination of the above listed. The common causes may include injuries, infections, inflammations, entrapment, degeneration or auto-immune dysfunctions. Back Pain from above-mentioned origins or causes may be treated with acupuncture for its symptoms, however, the prognosis varies depends on the origins and causes. As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. Pain can occur when, for example, someone lifts something too heavy or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the back. If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. When these nerve roots become compressed or irritated, back pain results. Soft tissue, spine, nervous system, internal organs & emotional disturbance
are the sources that could cause low back pain. For example, low back pain may
reflect nerve or muscle irritation or bone lesions. Most low back pain follows
injury or trauma to the back, but pain may also be caused by degenerative
conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone
diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital
abnormalities in the spine. Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy,
stress, poor physical condition, posture inappropriate for the activity being
performed, and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain.
Additionally, scar tissue created when the injured back heals itself does not
have the strength or flexibility of normal tissue. Buildup
of scar tissue from repeated injuries eventually weakens the back and can lead
to more serious injury. Back to Top
Who is most likely to develop low back pain?Nearly everyone has low back pain sometime. Men and women are equally affected. It occurs most often between ages 30 and 50, due in part to the aging process but also as a result of sedentary life styles with too little (sometimes punctuated by too much) exercise. The risk of experiencing low back pain from disc disease or spinal degeneration increases with age. Low back pain unrelated to injury or other known cause is unusual in pre-teen children. However, a backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and supplies can quickly strain the back and cause muscle fatigue. To avoid back strain, children carrying backpacks should bend both knees when lifting heavy packs, visit their locker or desk between classes to lighten loads or replace books, or purchase a backpack or airline tote on wheels Back to Top
How acupuncture treats low back pain ?Acupuncture offers fast relief that could be effective in just a few minutes to hours on low back pain by 4 ways:
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Is the acupuncture effect real or simply a placebo effect?Through functional MRI Neurophysiological Evidence of Acupuncture Mechanisms Research in US, acupuncture appears to inactivate the brain regions involved in the transmission and perception of pain. The data suggest that acupuncture stimulation clearly desensitizes or reduces activation in the cortical areas that are believed to be involved with pain signal processing, thereby alleviating pain perception. The data support the efficacy of acupuncture in pain relief, and support the biological bases of acupuncture analgesia. Back to Top
Does it work for me?Acupuncture treatment in pain relief has been proven effective and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIH). It has been helping many patients with low back pain problems. It is certainly a reasonable natural modality that has its potential to help. However, “It works for many” doesn’t equal to “it works for you”. As for you, there is only one way to find out… Back to Top
How many sessions would I need? How much does it cost ?Although good results can be obtained in as few as 6 acupuncture treatments, it is more realistic to expect a long-term process if the condition has been chronic. A complication can develop if the early symptoms are not treated. The treatment has to be individualized to your particular imbalance, and this takes time and experience. Most of the group insurance and company benefits cover acupuncture treatment. You may get clarification from human resources department in your work place. We charge $60 per acupuncture session. . In addition, 5-minute acupressure for $6 is often useful for soft tissue injuries. There is a $15 initial consultation fee charged at the first time of visit. All fees above subject to change without notice. Please call 403-233-0498 for current rate. Back to Top
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