Acupuncture for Sciatica

Acupuncture – Effective for providing sciatica relief.

Research has confirmed, what I’ve witnessed for quite some time, that acupuncture is effective for treating and relieving sciatica pain.

What does current research tell us?

Sciatica, which if you’re unfamiliar, is pain that’s elicited when the sciatic nerve is being compressed.  This results in pain that originates in the lower back and generally radiates down one or both of the legs.

The study conducted treatments that used electroacupuncture and warm needle acupuncture on specific points along the hip and leg.  The study group that used a combination of electroacupuncture and warm needle therapy had a 96.15% effective rate.

How does acupuncture work to reduce sciatic pain?

Acupuncture can improve nerve transmission, and with the use of heat, can direct heat to the muscular layer and nerve.  This improves blood circulation, reduces inflammation and promotes nerve repair.

How many treatments do I need to for my sciatica?

A typical course of treatment is twice a week for 3 weeks, and then we reassess your condition.  Acupuncture is a cumulative medicine, so the frequency and consistency of treatments is critical to ensuring lasting results.

After 3 weeks of treatment if you are experiencing adequate improvement, we can start to space out the treatments to once per week.  We would continue treatment at this pace as long as you are making consistent improvement from week to week.

Each patient responds differently, and, of course, your progress will depend on age, the length of history of pain, and the severity.  In general, the longer and more severe the condition, the more treatments it will take to resolve.

Have questions? Send me an email at: al@restorativeacu.com

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References:
[1] Research on the clinical efficacy and security on warm acupuncture in treating sciatica, Ye Weihan, Zeng Weiquan, Shenzhen Journal of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, August 2020.
[2] Assessment of the clinical efficacy and security on warm acupuncture in treating sciatica, Hupeng, China Prac Med, December 2017.