Acupuncture for Back & Neck Pain

Back and neck pain shows up in a lot of different ways — a dull, mechanical ache that's worse with certain movements, sharp pain that radiates down the leg or arm, or stiffness that limits how far you can turn or bend. We commonly treat mechanical low back pain, sciatica and nerve-related radiculopathy, disc-related pain, spinal stenosis, and osteoarthritis of the spine.

Why It Happens

The spine relies on a balance of mobility and stability through every segment, supported by the muscles, fascia, and discs surrounding it. When one area becomes too stiff or another too unstable — often from prolonged sitting, repetitive strain, disc changes, or postural habits — the body compensates, and pain often shows up at the segment doing the most extra work, not necessarily the one that's most damaged.

When a nerve root is compressed or irritated, whether from a disc, stenosis, or muscular tension, pain, numbness, or tingling can radiate down the arm or leg along that nerve's path.

How We Treat It

We use acupuncture, dry needling, and electroacupuncture along the spine and surrounding musculature to reduce pain, inflammation, muscle guarding, and nerve irritation, then treat the full kinetic chain — the hips, shoulders, and the fascial planes running the length of the trunk — to address the compensation patterns that build above and below the affected segments.

A Note on Sudden, Severe Back Pain or Sciatica

When pain is sudden and severe — especially if it's hard to find any comfortable position — care from your doctor or a chiropractor may be the right first step. Acupuncture tends to be most effective once the most acute phase has settled, for the ongoing muscle tension, nerve irritation, and recovery that follow.

What to Expect