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Should acupuncture cure herniated disc?

Acupuncture for herniated disc is a treatment method through the application of traditional medicine. This is a method of using needles to act on acupoints to help patients relieve pain, numbness, and fatigue. Join SignsSymptomsList to learn more about the effects of acupuncture and the notes when choosing acupuncture to treat herniated discs through this article.

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Overview of herniated disc

What is a herniated disk?

The disc is the cushion, located between the vertebrae. The intervertebral disc consists of two parts: the fibrous capsule (outer layer) and the mucinous nucleus (inner layer). The discs are under pressure from the spine and other body parts. Intervertebral discs help the vertebrae work smoothly and flexibly. A herniated disc is a medical term that refers to a condition that occurs when the nucleus pulposus of the spinal disc moves out of its normal position. This slimy nucleus can penetrate the ligaments holding the spine, causing compression on the nerve roots. This condition often causes pain, fatigue, and numbness in places and areas of the body where the nerve roots are compressed.

A herniated disc can occur at any level of the vertebrae. In particular, lumbar disc herniation causing low back pain radiating to the legs is the most common herniated disc condition.

According to Traditional Medicine, herniated disc has symptoms similar to the description of dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and sciatica. These are diseases recorded very early in the canonical literature. Accordingly, the causes of the disease will cause qi stagnation, blood stasis, hindering the movement of qi and blood, causing pain. Causes include weather changes, overwork, heavy lifting, poor posture, injuries, and long-term illnesses. Acupuncture is one of the methods of treating herniated discs of Oriental Medicine.

Should acupuncture cure herniated disc?

Herniated disc images

Reason

Herniated discs are often the result of degenerative discs, ligaments or trauma, improper posture. Here are some of the main causes of a herniated disc:

  • Old age: The system of bones, joints, ligaments, discs are degenerated. The discs are often dehydrated, reduce mucus, collapse, and sclerosis, so they are easily damaged. In particular, the ligament system holding the vertebrae also becomes loose, making the disc easier to slip out.
  • Working posture, labor is not correct. Holding a working position for too long increases pressure on certain discs. On the other hand, some wrong postures such as stooping, sitting with a crooked back, holding the phone to the shoulder for a long time also cause hernia.
  • Spinal cord injury. Strong concussions to the spine from falls, work accidents, and traffic accidents can also cause hernias.

In addition, some risk factors that increase the pressure on the disc such as obesity, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis can also cause disc herniation.

Should acupuncture cure herniated disc?

Acupuncture is a method of treating herniated discs of traditional medicine

Symptoms of herniated disc

Herniated discs in the early stages may not have specific symptoms. Patients can only detect the disease through a general physical examination or when the disease is more advanced. Symptoms of a herniated disc may include:

  • Pain in the spine, hands - feet. Herniated discs in the spine can cause localized pain. Pain increases when doing heavy work, bending over, sneezing, coughing. Pain often recurs in episodes. Besides, the pain can spread to the shoulder, neck, limbs in a certain way.
  • Numbness of hands and feet. This condition is the result of the nucleus pulposus of the disc escaping, compressing the nerve roots. It often feels like ants crawling, or needles prick the skin. In addition, if the progression is severe, the patient may see some sensory disturbances, unable to distinguish between hot and cold...
  • Muscle weakness, muscle atrophy. This symptom is often seen in patients with severe, untreated hernia. Nerve roots are damaged causing the muscles to not be nourished. On the other hand, patients with limited movement and movement due to pain also weaken and atrophy faster.
  • Urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence. This symptom occurs in patients with hernia causing damage to the cauda equina.

The effect of acupuncture to treat herniated discs

Therapeutic acupuncture acts directly on acupuncture points with acupuncture needles, helping to increase blood circulation and solve congestion. Since then, it is effective in treating the symptoms of pain and numbness in herniated disc disease.

Many scientific studies in the world and in Vietnam reported some results as follows:

  • Acupuncture is safe and does not pose a serious danger to the patient. A small number of recorded skin bruises after acupuncture
  • Acupuncture was as effective (or better) as pain relief as (or more) effective than NSAIDs, a class of common anti-inflammatory pain relievers.

See more : Traditional medicine doctors answer about acupressure methods for herniated discs

Indications and contraindications for acupuncture treatment of herniated discs

Acupuncture is indicated for most patients with herniated disc with pain in the spine, pain or numbness spreading to the arms or legs.

Acupuncture is not recommended for diseases with indications for surgical intervention. As follows:

  • Medical treatment fails after 5-8 weeks. Medical treatment includes drug treatment, acupuncture, physical therapy, ...
  • Causes acute nerve compression with symptoms of muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, urinary disorders, urinary retention, ...
  • Disc herniation causes capsular tear, migratory hernia.

Acupuncture treatment for herniated disc

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the disease can be caused by many different causes. Depending on the type of disease, the doctor will use different acupuncture points. Some acupuncture points are often used in acupuncture to treat herniated discs.

  • A acupuncture point: acupoint at the place of pain. These acupoints have the effect of activating blood in the area, helping to relieve pain. Blood circulation helps nourish blood vessels, bones
  • Shen Du, Can Du, Dai Luu, Huyen Chung: These are the acupoints that help strengthen bones and strengthen the marrow.
  • Feng shui, feng shui, feng shui: The group of acupoints has the effect of feng shui. Feng shui is one of the major causes of pain in disc herniation.

Depending on the medical condition, the doctor will perform different cholera techniques. The number of acupuncture points depends on the condition of each person. The patient is disinfected the skin of the acupoint before the needle is inserted and after the needle is withdrawn. The doctor will use a small needle to quickly insert through the skin into the acupuncture point. The needle is stimulated until the patient feels tension, pressure, moderate weight, no pain in the injection area.

Note when choosing acupuncture to treat herniated discs

Acupuncture needs to be performed in reputable units, ensuring the correct procedure by experienced doctors and nurses.

Patients need to follow the full acupuncture route, should not give up halfway when they have not reached their expectations. The effects of acupuncture come on gradually. This requires the patient to be patient with the course of treatment. During the treatment, the patient should limit strenuous exercise, bend back straight, correct posture.

The results from the studies show that acupuncture with the following methods: electro-acupuncture, chiropractic, warm-up, thread implantation, laser acupuncture... all bring good treatment results to patients. Helps reduce the dose of pain relievers, limit side effects caused by medication.

Should acupuncture cure herniated disc?

Laser acupuncture is one of the new acupuncture methods to treat herniated discs

Methods combined with acupuncture to treat herniated discs

Some of the other non-pharmacological treatments that are combined with acupuncture include:

  • Massage helps to regulate local blood and qi, clears the meridians to help relieve pain.
  • Physical therapy helps relieve pain. Pulling the spine with a machine helps reduce pressure on the spine, relieves pain, and maintains range of motion
  • Exercises for the spine
  • Belts such as belts… help fix the waist and maintain range of motion.

See more : Traditional medicine doctors answer about acupressure methods for herniated discs

Acupuncture is a safe, effective, and no side effects treatment for herniated discs . However, it should be done at reputable establishments. Hopefully through this article, SignsSymptomsList has provided you with useful information.