Back Pain and Lower Back Pain
By Bindi Zhu, M.D. (China) Ph.D. (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
One of the most common reasons patients seek Dr. Zhu is for back pain relief. As desk jobs become more prominent in Austin, we tend to see an increase in back pain, notably lower back pain. Dr. Zhu has been treating back pain with acupuncture, massage, and cupping for more than 20 years. If you have tried conventional treatments or are looking for a non-invasive and natural approach to relief, traditional Chinese medicine may be right for you.
Dr. Zhu’s approach is to integrate the best of both Western and Eastern medicine. If you have X-rays or MRI images, please bring them to your appointment so that Dr. Zhu can create a treatment plan targeting your specific condition.
If you need to get any imaging done, we would recommend you call Dr. Robert Josey, MD. who specializes in comprehensive medical and surgical treatment of the spine at 512-476-2830 Orthopedic Specialists of Austin.
When should I start treatment for Back pain?
As with most conditions, treating back pain early can prevent it from becoming chronic and more difficult to treat. For example, if back pain is caused by pulling a muscle or muscle overuse, treatment immediately after the injury is most effective. If an injury results in a herniated disk, the best chance for TCM is to start treatment within six months.
If back pain continues to worsen, or you start to lose feeling in your legs, please seek treatment immediately.
How TCM Can Treat Back Pain and Lower Back Pain
TCM relies on acupuncture, cupping, and targeted massage to treat back pain. Depending on how long you have had back pain and where the pain is located, Dr. Zhu may recommend different treatment methods.
It is a common misconception that acupuncture only targets the symptom (pain) and not the underlying cause. Though acupuncture can indeed be used for pain relief, acupuncture can also increase qi and blood flow in cases where it has become blocked. This allows the back to heal while relieving you of pain at the same time.
The use of cupping can increase blood flow to a target area, which can facilitate healing. The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a study in 2018 that found cupping to be beneficial to adults with chronic back pain. Targeted massage can also increase blood flow, which can aid in healing and pain relief.
Case Study – “Acupuncture, Patience & Traction”
Below is an example of how Dr. Zhu develops a treatment plan for his patients. The following written by one of Dr. Zhu’s patient’s who suffered from a herniated disk.
“I credit my acupuncturist with my recovery. He is Dr. Bindi Zhu. He is an oriental medicine doctor. He has his Masters in Internal Medicine and his Ph.D. in acupuncture. He has taught acupuncture at a Chinese University [sic] and teaches acupuncture in the U.S.”
“He told me the best chance for recovery is to start acupuncture within six months of onset of the injury. He said if my condition was treated in China, treatment would be five times a week for several months. At first, I did two treatments a week. Then, I increased the treatments to three times a week because I figured I wanted to have a better chance at recovery, and some investment in time in the present could tremendously affect the quality of the remainder of my life.”
“The treatments helped to decrease the pain and muscular contraction. They consisted of [the] insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles, lying under a heat lamp while listening to relaxing music, oriental massage, and at times, cupping. The treatments were not painful and were pleasant. Dr. Zhu also strongly encouraged me to rest. He said if I stimulated the disc, it would “grow, grow, grow,” but if I rested, the disc would “shrink, shrink, shrink.”
“Resting meant no running, no weightlifting, and no tennis. Walking was okay. It meant evaluating all of the things one does from day-to-day and avoid lifting. I had my husband do the lifting. Even carrying grocery bags is too much. Taking the garbage out can be too much. Gardening and yard work is out of the question. Patience is key, and asking others to help is key. I used the handicap button to open heavy office doors. The hundreds of decisions that a person makes each day affect how the back heals.
“Dr. Zhu also kept encouraging me to do traction. I had an over-the-door traction kit that I bought from my chiropractor. The traction was quite helpful and helped create space between the vertebrae. My traction was for the cervical spine. Early on, I went for some physical therapy…, and they had a traction machine that you would lie in, and it seemed to be very effective for whole body traction.
“Dr. Zhu also told me that I was very lucky because the herniation was not impinging on my spinal cord. (At the time, I did not feel very lucky because I was in pain, but he was right.)
“Dr. Zhu has also helped my husband with a back injury from golfing. He also has given a friend great relief from depression. He has helped another friend with tennis elbow.
Final Thoughts
Though both Conventional medicine and TCM can help with back pain and even help strengthen your back to be more resilient to future pain, you should still be aware of how your daily habits affect your back. For example, slouching in an uncomfortable chair all day could be the root cause of your back pain. Without changing the root cause, treatments can only help you alleviate the symptoms. Dr. Zhu stresses the importance of finding the root cause of your back pain and customizing a treatment plan that is right for you.