- Art of Wellness Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)11704 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 295, Los Angeles, CA, 90025
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Back Pain
Acupuncture for Sciatica Pain
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac.
Sharp, burning pain in the buttocks that radiates down the leg? Low back pain and hip pain? These can be signs of sciatica, or nerve pain due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Acupuncture treatment can help relieve sciatic pain and promote nerve healing.
What is “sciatica?” Sciatica refers to the variety of symptoms that can arise when the sciatic nerve is irritated, due to injury, inflammation, or pinching of the nerve. These symptoms can include:
- Low back pain
- Sharp, shooting, or burning pain in the buttocks
- Nerve pain radiating down the leg
- Pain occurs with bending over or lifting legs
- Tingling or numbness, “pins and needles” sensation in the back, buttocks, leg or foot
- Muscle weakness in the leg
- “Foot drop” or dragging of foot when you walk
- In severe cases, urinary incontinence
When we say “sciatic nerve,” we are actually referring to two thick bundles of nerves that branch out of the base of the spinal cord and then run through the buttocks and down the legs. These nerves carry signals from the brain to the extremities, allowing you to make voluntary movements and communicating when there is pain or dysfunction.
Nerve pain or tingling sensations can occur at any point along the sciatic nerve bundle and tend to come and go, depending on your activity. The symptoms usually only show up on one side of the body.
Most people who experience symptoms of sciatica will find that they go away in a matter of weeks or months. In the meantime, though, sciatica pain can have a seriously negative impact on your daily life. Sciatica pain can be severe at times, affecting your motivation and ability to partake in your usual physical activities and even impacting your mental health.
Unfortunately, some people will develop chronic sciatica that can persist for months or even years. That is why it is best to address sciatic pain and not ignore it. If there are deeper problems contributing to inflammation or causing nerve damage, they need to be found and addressed.
Acupuncture treatment can help relieve sciatica pain and sensations of numbness and facilitate recovery.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatic nerve pain can be caused by a variety of factors or health conditions. In some cases “true sciatica” is caused by damage to or compression of the sciatic nerve. In other cases, the pain might be stemming from something else, such as piriformis syndrome, spinal disk problems, or stenosis, causing inflammation around the nerve bundle that causes pinching or compression.
Often sciatic pain develops due to improper form when lifting weight, repetitive stress from performing a task that requires bending or awkward positioning of the body, or a lack of core strength that puts too much stress on your low back when you lift something.
Some causes of sciatica include:
- Pregnancy can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve
- Osteoarthritis can damage the discs and/or cartilage in the spine
- Peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis, or lumbar stenosis
- Bone spurs on the spine
- In rare cases, a tumor in the spine
Conventional Treatment for Sciatica
Generally, when you see your medical doctor for help with sciatic pain, the initial exam and treatment protocols will be conservative. Because imaging (x-ray, ultrasound or MRI) is not particularly helpful for showing nerve damage or impingement, typically doctors will wait to do this until the condition has gone on for more than a few months, and will be looking for herniated disks or other spinal issues.
Typical recommendations for sciatica will involve taking NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain medications), and using basic home remedies like cold packs and heating pads. Massage therapy may be helpful, and you might be referred to a physical therapist, who can offer some gentle exercises and stretches that may help.
If these recommendations do not help, next steps for treatment of sciatica pain may involve steroid injections or nerve root blocks, other medications, such as muscle relaxers, certain antidepressants that are known to help with nerve pain, oral corticosteroids, or opioid pain medications.
In severe, chronic cases, where the pain is related to herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs, surgery may be suggested.
Acupuncture treatment, when used as an alternative or adjunct therapy for sciatica, can help relieve pain symptoms.
Can Acupuncture Help Sciatica?
Modern science has now been able to prove what TCM practitioners and patients have known for many centuries; acupuncture has an analgesic effect. The insertion of thin needles at specific points along the meridians can help reduce painful sensations, reduce inflammation, and help relax muscle contractions.
In fact, acupuncture is not only highly effective for the treatment of many different types of pain; it is also safer than use of pain medications, as it has no unwanted side effects.
According to TCM theory, sciatica pain is usually considered to arise due to imbalances affecting either the gallbladder (Shaoyang) meridian or the bladder (Taiyang) meridian. The presentation of pain, tingling or heaviness on one side lets the acupuncture practitioner know which meridian and system to address.
One study looked at patients who had been experiencing sciatica leg pain for at least three months due to herniated disks, but had not had surgery and were not scheduled to have surgery. Some were given ten acupuncture treatment sessions over the course of four weeks, while others were given “sham” acupuncture. (This is the control system for many studies involving acupuncture treatment.)
After two weeks, the patients who were receiving acupuncture were already reporting a significant reduction in pain and disability. At four weeks, they reported even greater improvement. At followups after 26 weeks, and a full year, the patients who had received acupuncture treatment reported continued benefits.
A systematic review of 11 clinical trials studying acupuncture treatment for sciatica found that acupuncture and acupuncture with medication were both more effective for reducing severity of pain symptoms over medication alone, and that acupuncture treatment had fewer negative side effects than taking pain medication.
Tuina massage is another TCM therapy that can help relieve low back pain or leg pain. In some cases, your acupuncture practitioner may also provide this traditional healing massage. Topical Chinese herbal analgesics, such as liniment or herbal patches may also be recommended.
Acupuncture Near Me for Sciatica in West Los Angeles
Dr. Tan and Dr. Cai of Art of Wellness Acupuncture on the Westside of Los Angeles have been treating patients for pain conditions for over 35 years. They draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine and are able to create an individualized treatment protocol for each patient. If you or someone you know has been suffering with low back pain, leg pain, tingling and numbness due to a pinched nerve, repetitive stress, or some other cause, please do not hesitate to reach out to Art of Wellness to schedule a consultation. Relief for sciatica pain through acupuncture treatment can help get back to your normal life again.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Lumbar Stenosis With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Lower back lumbar pain? Sciatic pain that radiates down the legs or causes tingling or numbness in the legs? These can be signs of lumbar stenosis, a nerve condition affecting the spinal cord in the lower back. Acupuncture and TCM offer lower back pain treatment for spinal stenosis of the spine.
What Is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
The lower part of the spine, known as the lumbar region, consists of five vertebrae situated between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal has become more narrow over time, compressing the nerves that travel through the lower back and into the legs. This can cause back lumbar pain, or lower back pain.
This condition is similar to cervical radiculopathy, in which compression of nerves in the upper spine cause neck pain and shoulder pain.
Although lumbar stenosis can affect younger individuals due to congenital factors, it is most often seen in people over the age of 60 as a degenerative condition.
Spinal stenosis can be related to a slipped disc in back (also known as a bulging disc in back or herniated disc in back).
As we age, changes in the spine develop gradually over years, even decades. The disks that cushion the vertebrae lose their sponginess, shrink in height, and may bulge into the spinal canal.
Bone spurs can also form, and the spinal ligaments may thicken. These changes are all part of the body’s natural aging process, yet together they can create a narrowing of the central canal. When this narrowing causes inflammation or compression of nerves, it can lead to the symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Top 5 Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Back pain, or what is known as “sciatic pain,” that radiates down the legs, are the most common symptoms of spinal stenosis. The pain is usually most pronounced when standing or walking for long periods of time and feels better when you sit down or bend forward to stretch the legs and low back.
- Leg pain, weakness, or numbness in the legs, calves, or buttocks
- Cramping in the calves when walking, often requiring frequent breaks to walk any significant distance
- Pain radiating down one or both legs, hip pain, a sensation similar to sciatica
- In severe cases, loss of motor function in the legs or issues with bowel or bladder control
- Pain that improves when bending forward, sitting, or lying down
Spinal stenosis can affect your gait, by causing numbness or weakness in the muscles in the calf that lift the front part of the foot; that leads to feet slap when walking. This is also known as “foot drop,” “slap gait,” or “steppage gait.”
In some cases, lumbar spinal stenosis can also cause sexual problems, like erectile dysfunction (ED), pain during sex, difficulty with arousal, or an inability to orgasm.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is sometimes accompanied by other age-related conditions. Degenerative spondylolisthesis, where one vertebra slips over another (typically L4 over L5), and degenerative scoliosis, which causes a mild curvature in the lower back, may occur alongside spinal stenosis.
In rare cases, lumbar spinal stenosis can lead to cauda equina syndrome, a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you experience sudden loss of bowel or bladder control, severe numbness in the legs, or intense weakness that affects your mobility, seek medical help right away.
Medical Diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
A healthcare provider will begin with a thorough physical exam, assessing sensation, strength, and reflexes to identify any signs of spinal stenosis. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans provide detailed insights into the structure of the spine, allowing doctors to pinpoint areas where the spinal canal may be narrowed or where bone spurs could be pressing on nerves. In some cases, further testing may be recommended, including nerve conduction studies, electromyography (EMG), or a myelogram to examine nerve function and muscle response.
Medical Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Treatment for spinal stenosis usually involves pain management through medication.
Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. For some people, steroid injections may also be recommended to reduce swelling. In cases where nerve pain or muscle spasms are present, specific medications maybe be prescribed to help manage these symptoms.
If conservative treatments don’t provide sufficient relief, surgery may be considered. Surgical options include removing bone spurs and widening the spaces in the spine to relieve nerve pressure, known as decompression, and sometimes spinal fusion to stabilize the lower back. This type of surgery is often recommended only when other measures have not been successful, except in emergency cases like cauda equina syndrome.
Acupuncture and TCM can help relieve back pain, leg pain, and hip pain, without the unwanted side effects that can come with taking pain medications and steroid injections.
Can Acupuncture Help Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Acupuncture is now widely recognized as an effective way to manage pain without side effects or dependence on drugs.
In a randomized study involving 80 patients over the age of 50 with lumbar spinal stenosis, acupuncture was compared to a sham acupuncture treatment over 24 sessions across 8 weeks. Results showed that the acupuncture group experienced a significant improvement and greater reductions in pain intensity, symptoms, and dysfunction compared to the sham group.
Another study on acupuncture for spinal stenosis included patients experiencing chronic back and leg pain due to spinal canal narrowing, specifically with L5 radiculopathy, which often leads to symptoms like numbness, weakness, and limited mobility. This study took place in Japan, with patients who had been referred to a hospital for surgical treatment, but were given acupuncture treatment instead.
Participants in the study received a series of acupuncture treatments, where needles were inserted at specific points to promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the body’s natural pain-relief responses. The outcomes showed that patients reported significant pain relief and improved function over time, suggesting acupuncture can be an effective alternative for managing spinal stenosis symptoms.
Importantly, the study highlighted that acupuncture could help patients avoid prolonged use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are commonly prescribed for pain but may harm liver health with extended use. By reducing dependency on medications, acupuncture offers a holistic approach that aligns with the goal of supporting overall wellness, including protecting liver health. This makes it a promising option for patients seeking a natural, long-term solution to manage their spinal stenosis symptoms effectively.
One study demonstrated significant pain reduction and quality-of-life improvements after 10 acupuncture sessions, with effects lasting up to six weeks post-treatment. Other trials have found that acupuncture led to greater improvements in pain, mobility, and patient satisfaction than conventional therapies alone, especially in the short term.
Preventing Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
While lumbar spinal stenosis may not be entirely preventable, especially with the natural aging process, there are steps you can take to support spine health:
- Engage in regular exercise, including aerobic activities like walking, swimming, or cycling, to keep muscles strong and flexible.
- Practice good posture and safe lifting techniques to protect your spine.
- Maintain a healthy weight to reduce extra strain on the lower back.
- Avoid smoking, as it accelerates spinal degeneration.
Physical therapy, staying active, and using home remedies like ice packs, heating pads, or massage can all help alleviate discomfort.
Acupuncture Near Me for Lumbar Stenosis Near Me
At Art of Wellness Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in West Los Angeles, Drs. Tan and Cai have over 35 years of experience in treating pain conditions of all sorts, including low back pain, hip pain, sciatic pain, and more. They will work with each patient on an individual basis, looking at their imaging and test results and combining their knowledge of orthopedic medicine with TCM to create a unique treatment protocol. TCM views the whole person and provides holistic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis to relieve pain and improve function.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Pelvic Congestion Syndrome With Acupuncture and TCM
By Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Pelvic pain that gets worse after standing for a long time? Urinary pain and urgency? Lower back pain and sciatica? Bloated stomach after eating? These can all be symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), or vaginal varicose veins. Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome.
What is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS)?
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) is a chronic condition caused by varicose veins in the pelvis—similar to varicose veins that commonly occur in the legs. These dilated veins in the pelvis can cause severe pelvic pain, particularly a feeling of heaviness or aching pain that worsens over the day. PCS pain can often get worse after standing for long periods.
Pelvic congestion is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain, but PCS often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms can mimic other conditions, such as:
- Endometriosis
- uterine fibroids/leiomyoma of the uterus
- bladder pain/interstitial cystitis
- ovarian cysts
- Generalized back pain, lower back pain, hip pain, or groin pain
All of these conditions can cause chronic pain in the pelvic area.
In Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, dilated veins around the ovaries and the vulvovaginal can happen due to venous obstruction, problems with valves in the blood vessels, and/or changes in hormone levels.
PCS does not only affect women. Men can also suffer from pelvic congestion syndrome and experience chronic pelvic pain.
Pelvic pain conditions related to vascular issues and blood flow are complicated. Most health conditions related to pelvic pain in relation to reproductive organs, and in particular CPS, are still not very well understood by modern medicine.
TCM offers a holistic approach to reproductive healthcare. Acupuncture treatment can help address the many factors involved in pelvic congestion syndrome.
Top 10 Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Symptoms
PCS symptoms can vary from patient to patient, but the most common signs of PCS include:
- Pelvic pain that gets worse as the day goes on. Discomfort tends to accumulate as the day progresses due to the pooling of blood in the pelvic veins, leading to increased pressure.
- Pelvic pain that worsens when standing for long periods. Many women report that standing for extended periods increases the feeling of pressure and pain in the pelvic region.
- Pelvic pain after eating, abdominal pain after meals. Eating can trigger pain and bloating, making meals uncomfortable.
- Urinary incontinence, an inability to control urination, especially when coughing or lifting something heavy.
- Painful urination (urinary pain),burning during urination, often confused with a UTI (urinary tract infection).
- Urinary urgency, sudden need to urinate, sudden, intense urge to urinate, which can feel similar to bladder conditions.
- IBS symptoms, alternating constipation and diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
- Lower back pain, radiating pain in the lower back, often mistaken for sciatica or musculoskeletal problems.
- Throbbing in the legs, achy legs after standing for a long time, poor circulation in the lower extremities, causing aching, swelling, and throbbing in the legs.
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia), pain during or after sex due to the increased pressure and swelling of the pelvic veins.
What Does Pelvic Congestion Pain Feel Like?
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) are two conditions that cause debilitating pain in the pelvic region, yet they are distinct in the way they present.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) is primarily caused by varicose veins in the pelvis, leading to blood pooling in the veins and creating chronic pelvic pain, particularly in women of childbearing age. PCS pain tends to worsen after long periods of standing, physical activity, or after sexual intercourse.
PCS is often associated with hormonal changes and pregnancy, but it is also underdiagnosed because the symptoms can overlap with other pelvic disorders besides pregnancy.
Diagnostic tools like Doppler ultrasound or venography are often needed to identify the underlying venous issues, which may be treated with hormone therapy, vein embolization, or surgery.
Medications that suppress estrogen may be prescribed to help relieve symptoms. These include Depo-Provera, Implanon, or Goserelin. These are all drugs that also prevent pregnancy, so they are not helpful for people who may be hoping to get pregnant, or who want or need to avoid taking hormonal birth control for whatever reason.
Ovarian vein embolization is a procedure that blocks or ties off veins so that blood isn’t flowing or pooling in areas of the pelvis.
Acupuncture offers an natural treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome, without side effects of hormonal birth control.
Can Acupuncture Help Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly acupuncture, can be an effective modality for treating conditions like Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS).
Acupuncture has been widely adopted in both Eastern and Western countries for managing pain syndromes. The central mechanism behind acupuncture’s effectiveness in these cases is its ability to stimulate specific acupoints, improving local blood circulation and reducing inflammation, which ultimately helps in alleviating pain.
The muscles and fascia inside the pelvis play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the pelvis and spine. The fascia in the pelvis can be compromised by trauma, postural stress, pregnancy, anxiety, and other subtle factors.
This is one of the reasons the pelvic pain and congestion can be difficult for conventional medicine to address properly. Visceral pain in the pelvic may not be easily “visible,” as it can be caused by microtraumas, adhesions, scar tissue, and pain referring from one area to another.
Acupuncture treatment can help relieve this type of pain, as placing needles in acupoints has an analgesic, as well as a calming, effect.
Research has demonstrated that acupuncture can release certain neurochemicals like adenosine, which exerts an analgesic effect during stimulation of acupoints, offering relief from pain in conditions like CPPS. This mechanism helps reduce inflammation and regulate pain by influencing inflammatory mediators, which play a significant role in chronic pelvic pain disorders.
Clinical trials have specifically shown that acupuncture improves symptoms in both men and women suffering from CPPS, with better outcomes than placebo or sham treatments.
One study looked at male patients with pelvic pain and venous congestion. After five weekly sessions of acupuncture treatment, patients reported significant reduction in pain, and MR venography showed reduction in intrapelvic venous congestion.
Specific formulations of Chinese herbs have been developed to help address the root cause of pelvic congestion, while also relieving painful symptoms.
Acupuncture’s ability to relieve pain through modulation of inflammatory processes makes it an excellent alternative or complementary therapy for chronic pelvic pain conditions.
Acupuncture Near Me for PCS in West LA
At Art of Wellness Acupuncture and TCM in Santa Monica, we have over 35 years of experience helping people with all kinds of chronic pain conditions. We offer highly specialized care for people experiencing reproductive issues, pregnancy, pelvic pain, referred back pain, lower back pain, hip pain, and groin pain. Our team of practitioners spend time with each patient to provide holistic care that takes the whole person into account: physical, mental, and emotional. If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic pelvic pain, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Low back pain, morning stiffness, hip pain? Fatigue, losing weight, poor vision, skin rashes? These can all be signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing Spondylitis is a type of autoimmune arthritis. Acupuncture can help relieve Ankylosing Spondylitis symptoms like lower back pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory arthritis condition that most often affects the spine, usually the lower back and pelvis is an inflammatory disease; the primary symptom is inflammation in the sacroiliac joints, the joints where the base of the spine (the ilium) meets the pelvis (the sacrum).
Similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis is an arthritic condition triggered by a person’s immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues. Arthritis generally refers to pain and swelling in joint tissues.
Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect the hips, knees, shoulder joints, and/or the ribcage. When the body tries to heal affected bones, extra bone tissue begins to grow. This new bone growth is what causes joint stiffness and lack of flexibility. When the ribs are affected, it can restrict normal breathing.
Ankylosing spondylitis can, over time, weaken bones to the extent that they begin to collapse; these compression fractures can ultimately lead to curvature of the spine and a stooped posture. These fractures of the vertebrae can potentially affect the spinal cord and nerves.
“Ankylosis” is a term for the stiffening and fusion of bones. A “fused spine” can be the eventual outcome of Ankylosing spondylitis.
AS can also cause inflammation in the GI tract, causing gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea. In this sense, it is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
In some cases, ankylosing spondylitis can cause eye inflammation, leading to vision problems like blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and painful eyes.
AS can also cause inflammation in the heart, which affects the function of the aortic valve and increases risk of heart disease.
As with other autoimmune disorders, modern medicine research has yet to discover what causes Ankylosing Spondylitis. Some gene mutations have been linked to ankylosing spondylitis, which is sometimes called axial spondyloarthritis.
Medical treatment for ankylosing spondylitis helps manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Acupuncture is widely recognized as an effective adjunct treatment for ankylosing spondylitis that can help reduce pain and improve mobility.
Top 10 Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms
The initial onset of symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis often includes episodes of lower back pain and stiffness or hip pain, which then may get more severe over time. But symptoms can vary widely from person to person, depending on which parts of the body are affected.
Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis include:
- Persistent lower back pain and stiffness, typically worse in the morning and after periods of inactivity; back pain that improves with movement and exercise
- Pain and stiffness that radiate from the lower back to the buttocks, hips, and thighs, reduced flexibility and range of motion in the spine
- Hip pain, shoulder pain, chest pain, rib pain, knee pain, and/or ankle pain
- Difficulty taking deep breaths due to stiffness in the chest and ribcage
- Fatigue
- Bony fusion of vertebrae, leading to a stooped posture and loss of spinal mobility
- Eye inflammation (uveitis) causes eye pain, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Psoriasis, skin rash
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea
There is usually a gradual progression of AS symptoms over time, potentially leading to severe spinal deformity and disability.
Conventional treatment, with acupuncture and TCM used as a complementary treatment, can be helpful for symptomatic relief.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment
While there is no cure for AS, conventional medical treatments aim to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life for individuals with the condition.
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib are commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation associated with AS. They can help relieve symptoms and improve mobility, particularly during flare-ups.
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) like sulfasalazine and methotrexate may be prescribed to slow the progression of AS and reduce inflammation. These medications work by suppressing the immune system’s abnormal response, which contributes to inflammation, the formation of extra bone tissue, and damage to the joints.
Biologic drugs, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors like adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab, target specific components of the immune system involved in inflammation. They are often prescribed for individuals with moderate to severe AS who do not respond adequately to NSAIDs or DMARDs.
Physical therapy can play a crucial role in the management of AS by helping to improve flexibility, posture, and range of motion. Exercise programs tailored to the individual’s needs can help strengthen muscles, reduce pain, and maintain spinal mobility.
Orthopedic interventions, such as braces and orthotics, may be recommended to support proper posture and prevent spinal deformities caused by AS. In severe cases, surgical procedures like spinal fusion may be considered to stabilize the spine and alleviate pain.
Individuals with AS require regular monitoring by healthcare providers to assess disease activity, monitor medication effectiveness, and detect any complications early. Adjustments to treatment plans may be necessary based on disease progression and individual response to therapy.
Can Acupuncture Help Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Acupuncture and moxibustion have been used for centuries to help relieve joint pain and stiffness due to inflammation. In Chinese, conditions that might involve bone fusion are called “zhu jie yang,” which means “bamboo spine.”
According to TCM theory, the bones are nourished by the kidney system; we observe that the formation of AS symptoms occurs along the Kidney Meridian and the Governing Vessel meridian. Weakness in bones may be due to deficiency of kidney Qi and blockage of the Governing Vessel.
Painful areas arise when there are blockages in Qi. Blockages occur due to pathogenic forces of phlegm accumulation, cold, and dampness.
Acupuncture treatment, herbs, and moxibustion may be used to strengthen the kidneys, address kidney yang deficiency, and clear dampness and wind from the channels.
One study found that patients who were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and kidney yang deficiency and were given acupuncture treatment and moxibustion focused on the Governing Vessel meridian experienced significant reduction of pain.
Moxibustion warms and invigorates yang energy and can help improve immune function. In the case of AS, this treatment protocol can help slow the progression of the disease, preventing inappropriate bone formation and reducing inflammatory responses.
A review of 26 studies that involved moxibustion treatment as an adjunct therapy for ankylosing spondylitis. The conclusion was that patients who had moxibustion in addition to conventional treatment fared better than those who did not receive moxibustion.
The British Acupuncture Council recommends TCM treatment for AS, as it has been shown to be effective at relieving back pain, without side effects.
One study of patients with ankylosing spondylitis who received acupuncture treatment and Chinese herb supplements, including herbal soak baths, found that people experienced pain relief and functional improvement.
A study that looked at 22 patients who received cupping therapy along with acupuncture and infrared heat lamps. The vast majority of the patients reported significant improvement in their pain symptoms.
Tuina therapeutic massage may also be helpful for helping to improve mobility and circulation.
A review of studies showed that acupuncture offers “unique advantages” in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, including localized pain relief, reduced inflammation, improvement of joint mobility, prevention of spinal deformity, and overall better quality of life.
Acupuncture Near Me for Ankylosing Spondylitis in West Los Angeles
Acupuncture can be an effective complementary treatment for many autoimmune disorders, including Sjogren’s disease, Lupus, as well as difficult-to-treat chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Dr. Tan and Dr. Cai at Art of Wellness in West L.A. have over 35 years of experience helping patients find relief from all kinds of musculoskeletal pain.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
How to Treat Kidney Stones With Acupuncture and TCM
By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Severe lower back pain, blood in urine, burning pee? These could be signs of kidney stones. Acupuncture and TCM offer an alternative or adjunct kidney stones treatment that can help relieve kidney stone pain and dysuria, or painful urination.
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. Salt and minerals can crystallize when urine reaches a certain level of concentration.
Often, kidney stones form when there are calcium oxalate crystals in urine. Calcium levels can be high because of eating too much sodium.
The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. If a kidney stone moves into a ureter and becomes lodged there, it can cause left lower back pain or right lower back pain. This is known as “passing a kidney stone.”
Kidney stones are very common, and many people go to the ER when they are experiencing severe lower back pain on one side and peeing blood. This happens when one or more kidney stones find their way into one of the ureters and become lodged there. This blocks the flow of urine and can cause severe pain and cramping.
Acupuncture can help reduce kidney stone pain in the short term, and help address the imbalances that are the root cause of kidney stones.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones form when there is not enough urine, and it becomes too concentrated. This often is due to not drinking enough fluids and getting dehydrated. Other kidney stone causes include:
- Not drinking enough water, dehydration
- Too much salt
- Too much sugar, fructose, or high fructose corn syrup
- Too much meat, too few fruits and vegetables
- Lack of exercise or too much exercise
- weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, which can cause chronic diarrhea
- Infections, UTIs
- Gout
- Chronic diarrhea due to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
- Type 2 Diabetes, high blood sugar levels
Kidney stones are differentiated into different types, depending on their mineral composition. The types of kidney stones are:
- Calcium stones – deposits of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate
- Uric acid stones – high levels of uric acid can be due to eating a lot of animal proteins
- Struvite stones – can form after a UTI
- Cystine stones – cystinuria is an inherited condition that causes buildup of the amino acid cystine in the urinary tract
Top 10 Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Many people have kidney stones and are not aware of them. It is possible to have kidney stones without pain or kidney stones without urinary symptoms. You may only find out about them when having imaging tests done for some other reason.
However, passing a kidney stone can certainly cause intense pain and other upsetting symptoms. The most common signs of kidney stones include:
- Sharp pain on one side of the lower back
- Cramps in one side
- Pain in the lower abdomen or groin
- Urgent need to pee, urinary urgency
- Peeing a lot, urinary frequency
- Burning sensation when peeing, dysuria
- Dark urine, blood in urine
- Nausea, vomiting
- Pain at the tip of the penis
- Fever and/or chills
Kidney stone pain can range from mild to severe, and it can come and go or be constant.
Acupuncture treatment has been shown to be effective for reducing kidney stone pain when used as an adjunct in emergency medical care settings when someone is waiting for conventional treatment.
Treatment for Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are diagnosed through blood tests and urine tests, which will show if there is too much uric acid, calcium, or other minerals that can cause stones to form. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, may be able to detect where stones are stuck in the urinary tract.
If a person is passing stones (kidney stones in toilet), they may be analyzed to determine what sort of mineral has formed them.
In many cases, people will be encouraged to wait until the stones pass on their own. In this case, simply drinking adequate fluids and using pain medication to manage the intermittent pain and cramping will be recommended. Medications such as alpha blockers (Flomax) may be prescribed to help relax the ureters.
If the kidney stones are too large to be passed, then surgery may be indicated. Procedures using sound waves are sometimes used to help break up the stones. Surgery using small scopes and instruments can also remove the stones. A stent may be placed in the ureter to help keep it open until swelling goes down and it heals.
Studies have indicated that a combination of medications like Flomax and Chinese herbs may help to expel kidney stones. TCM treatment can help prevent the need for surgery.
Can Acupuncture and Herbs Help Kidney Stones?
According to TCM theory, kidney stones are in the category of “Shilin” conditions, in which urination is difficult. Chinese herbs have traditionally been used to help balance the electrolyte minerals in the body, which helps prevent stones from forming in the urinary tract.
TCM treatment for kidney stones includes herbal medicine to help increase urine volume and excretion of minerals and inhibits the formation of calcium crystals.
Acupuncture treatment has an anesthetic effect which can help relieve the pain of kidney stones while other treatments take effect to help reduce and prevent the formation of new kidney stones.
One trial found that acupuncture treatment helped relieve kidney stone pain faster than pharmacological medications. Acupuncture treatment has no side effects, while 43% of the people in the study who were given intramuscular anesthesia report side effects like skin rash, irregular heartbeat, and drowsiness.
Acupuncture and acupressure can help relieve severe back pain and pelvic pain due to various urinary and other reproductive system conditions. It can also help reduce the anxiety and depression that people sometimes experience when faced with severe pain.
How to Prevent Kidney Stones
Drinking plenty of water is probably the most important thing you need to do to prevent dehydration and low volume of urine. In addition to staying hydrated, you should:
- Reduce sodium intake by eating less salt and fewer processed and packaged foods.
- Reduce foods that encourage calcium oxalate stones: meats, berries, beer, black pepper, spinach, chocolate/cocoa, and tea.
- Combine calcium-rich foods or drinks with foods that contain oxalate, so that they can be absorbed well together. This could mean eating spinach with cheese, or berries with yogurt. The citrate in citrus juices can also help discourage stone formation.
- Add foods with a high ratio of magnesium to calcium, such as: brown rice, oats, barley, bananas, soybeans, and flaxseeds.
- Be sure to replace lost fluids when you sweat through exercise or by being in a sauna, steam room, or hot tub, or just by being in the heat during the summertime.
- Balance your Ph levels. For some people this may mean increasing alkaline foods. As your acupuncturist about checking your Ph levels.
Acupuncture Near Me for Kidney Stones, Los Angeles
TCM treatment can help reduce pain and address the root causes of many conditions that cause urinary urgency and frequency, like BPH, UTIs, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and interstitial cystitis. Acupuncture can also help relieve pelvic pain and low back pain due to many other conditions, like endometriosis, and mittelschmerz. If you are experiencing urinary symptoms or recurring bladder pain or back pain, consider consulting an experienced acupuncture practitioner to resolve the root issue.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.