Many patients have found meaningful relief from spinal neuralgia with acupuncture, which is a holistic therapy that has existed for thousands of years. Acupuncture is considered an alternative treatment that is not a component of modern medicine, though many doctors suggest it as a complementary therapy for stress relief and pain management.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles into the skin at various points around the body with the aim of reducing neuropathic pain by overriding pain signals being sent from another part of the body. For instance, if you are suffering from neuralgia pain in the lower back, acupuncture applied to a different region of the body can “scramble” the messages being sent from the compressed nerve to the brain.
How Do I Choose an Acupuncturist?
If you’ve decided to treat your neuralgia with acupuncture, there are a variety of factors you should confirm before you choose an acupuncturist. He or she should have the following:
- A Masters Degree in Acupuncture or Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
- All the necessary accreditations for your particular state of residence
- Extensive experience in treating neuropathic spine pain
- A list of patient references
- Clean, comfortable facilities
- The ability to listen to your needs, concerns, symptoms, and treatment goals
Additional Conservative Treatment Options
There are a variety of conservative treatments that you could consider for your neuralgia, in addition to acupuncture. Work with your physician to design a treatment plan that includes restorative yoga, low-impact exercise, intermittent rest, pain medication, behavior modification, hot-cold compresses, or other options.
If weeks or months of conservative treatments prove ineffective at alleviating your pain, Laser Spine Institute may be able to help you find relief from your neuralgia symptoms. We offer a variety of minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that directly address the source of your neuralgia without the risks and lengthy recuperation of highly invasive open spine procedures. Contact us today for a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan.
