Acupuncture for Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to Wongu Health Center, and one of the best-studied uses of acupuncture. Here is what the evidence says and what care with us involves.
Back pain can wear you down: getting out of bed, sitting through a shift, lifting your kids, sleeping through the night. Many of our patients have already tried medication, physical therapy, or chiropractic care and want another option that works alongside them.
What the research says
Acupuncture is one of the non-drug treatments physicians are advised to consider for low back pain. The American College of Physicians' 2017 guideline recommends that patients with chronic low back pain start with non-drug options, and acupuncture is on that list, along with exercise, rehabilitation, yoga, tai chi, and spinal manipulation.1
A large analysis pooled individual data from about 20,000 patients in 39 randomized trials. It found acupuncture reduced chronic back and neck pain more than both sham acupuncture and usual care, and most of the benefit was still present a year later.2 The difference from sham acupuncture was modest, so acupuncture is not a cure-all. Still, it is a reasonable, low-risk option with real evidence behind it.
Who we see for back pain
- Chronic or recurring low back pain that keeps coming back
- Back stiffness and muscle tension from long hours standing, driving, or sitting at a desk
- Back pain in people who want to rely less on pain medication (always with their doctor's guidance)
- Patients already in physical therapy or chiropractic care who want additional support
In Las Vegas, many people work long hospitality and service shifts on their feet, and that takes a toll on the back. If you are a Culinary or VA Community Care patient, contact us before booking so we can verify eligibility and authorization.
See a doctor first, or go to the ER, if you have:
- loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs,
- new or worsening weakness in a leg or foot,
- back pain after a fall, car accident, or other injury,
- fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer along with new back pain, or
- severe pain that doesn't ease with rest or wakes you up every night.
These can be signs of a condition that needs medical evaluation right away.
What treatment at Wongu involves
A thorough first visit. Your practitioner asks where the pain is and what makes it better or worse, how long you've had it, and what you've already tried. They'll also ask how you sleep, move, and work. A tongue and pulse assessment helps shape the treatment plan from a Chinese medicine perspective.
Acupuncture at local and distant points. Needles are often placed around the lower back and hips and also at points on the legs, feet, and hands. You rest for 20–30 minutes while the needles are in.
Other tools when they fit. Your practitioner may add cupping for tight muscles, or moxibustion (gentle heat from the herb mugwort). When appropriate, they may recommend an herbal formula or topical preparation for home.
Advice you can use at home. For most back pain, staying gently active helps more than bed rest. Your practitioner may suggest simple habits for posture, movement, and sleep.
How many sessions?
Clinical trials for chronic back pain have commonly used about 6 to 12 sessions over several weeks. In practice, many patients start with weekly visits and space them out as they improve. Your practitioner will check your progress with you. If a fair course of treatment isn't helping, we will tell you honestly and suggest other options.
Intern or licensed OMD?
Both work well for back pain. A supervised intern visit costs less and gives you a longer first appointment (1.5–2 hours), and a licensed OMD oversees every treatment. A visit with one of our licensed OMDs takes about an hour.
| Visit | Supervised Intern | Licensed OMD |
|---|---|---|
| Initial visit (consultation + treatment) | $80 · 1.5–2 hours | $120 · about 1 hour |
| Follow-up visit | $50 · about 1 hour | $80 · 30–55 minutes |
| Cupping (up to 30 min) | $50 | $100 (includes OMD consultation) |
| Custom herbal formulas & teas | From $15/day | From $15/day |
"Dr. Sekine is amazing — he helped me with back pain that was a 10 out of 10. In just 15 minutes with acupuncture my pain was down to a 5."
Individual experience. Results vary from person to person.
Back pain questions
Get help for your back pain
First visits from $80. Self-pay patients can book online. VA Community Care and Culinary patients should contact Wongu Health Center before scheduling so we can verify eligibility, authorization, and provider availability.
Related pages
Sources
- Qaseem A, et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514–530. doi:10.7326/M16-2367
- Vickers AJ, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pain. 2018;19(5):455–474.