Back pain worse after acupuncture… any help please?

[mechanicalpencil]

DH has had chronic back pain for decades.

In that time he has seen multiple:
doctors
physios
osteopaths
chiropractors
massage therapists

and yet the pain always recurs. He is currently in a very bad bout including sciatica but the pain seems to move about, sometimes in the leg, sometimes in the back etc. GP pretty much said not much can be done but has prescribed painkillers and suggested he has physio again.

I suggested acupuncture as I have had success with it in the past. According to the acupuncturist, one of the needles in his lower back immediately reacted and the area went red. He said that needle was very painful. No problem with other needles but the acupuncturist only did a few.

He didn’t feel any different when he got up, he went home still no change. He had a rest, then a few hours later all his back pain had gone! It was incredible… NO BACK PAIN or sciatica at all.

But… the next morning he woke up in pain again, only this time much worse than before the acupuncture.

What has happened here? Has the acupuncture somehow made it worse? Or is it part of the healing process? Is it worth trying it again?

This is just a general plea for help really. I hate seeing him in so much pain and it’s really getting him down.

I would be really grateful if you could share your tips for back pain and especially if anyone has any insight as to what happened in the acupuncture session.

Thank you.

The acupuncturist is a chartered physiotherapist if that helps and comes highly recommended.

I had this.
I went to an osteopath who gave me some acupuncture and the pain worsened to intolerable levels. Massive sciatica. I ended up on steroids, diazepam etc to try and stop the muscle contractions.
Since then no major flare ups, but I do try to exercise my back, I swim.
Strength training is meant to be very very good for this too.

@OverlyFragrant thank you for sharing your experience, it sounds very similar. It is also very reassuring to hear you have had no major flare ups since, I hope that continues!

Can I ask how you recovered? Do you think the diazepam and steroids helped get you out of the cycle?

There is some diazepam left over in a drawer from a previous bout.

Hopeful bump

I just rested. Literally laid down until the pain subsided which the meds allowed me to do.
Once the muscles stopped contracting around the nerve, the nerve could begin recovery, which was slow.

I think this definitely sounds like something he should try @OverlyFragrant, thank you. The messages so far have been “make sure you keep moving” but that hasn’t helped so far, just seems to make things a lot lot worse.

So, will try diazepam and rest!

Has he had an actual scan to try and pinpoint what the issue is? You’re throwing so much at it without knowing what’s actually causing the pain.

if you’ve got the money, then I’d start with looking into finding out what’s wrong. That way you can target treatment as opposed to a bit of a scattergun approach right now

Have a read of this. My DH's back pain was so bad he couldn't even walk to the toilet. He lives a concretely normal life now with minimal pain only when he's stressed https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pain-Free-You-Teach-Brain-ebook/dp/B0DR3GBM1Q

I have listened to this Dr on a few podcasts. https://seanmackey.people.stanford.edu/news/dr-sean-mackey-shares-tools-manage-chronic-pain-huberman-lab-podcast

I understand they have done research on acupuncture and they think it does work but they aren't sure how. They think it might be that the needle is targeting nerves. Having listened to him I wanted to try it for chronic pain (have used it years ago) but I worried about whether you could ever be sure you had a good acupuncturist.

@OverlyFragrant he has had many scans over the past 3 decades which show herniated disc problems. At this point, GPs suggest painkillers and physio. But this has never worked, so that’s why he tried the osteopath, chiropractor, private physio etc over the past 3 decades.. but again nothing ever “works”…pain subsides, only to flare up again, time and time again.

He needs to see an orthopedic surgeon. If he’s got a herniated disc he needs to see someone who only does herniated discs all day. There are several options available, all of which are clinically proven. Alternative medicine here is a waste of time and effort and in all likelihood is making things worse.

What sort of scans has he had? Have had an mri? How old was he when the back pain started? Is the pain constantly bad or is he worse in the mornings/after rest or is he worse after moving about/exercising?

So you know it’s a herniated disc issue. That’s something. @Flashout is correct. There is zero point in all the alternative therapies etc - like sticking a plaster over a broken arm. He needs to see a surgeon who operates on herniated discs

@MoominUnderWater @Flashout
thank you both. None of the doctors he has ever seen have suggested surgery, i expected the last GP to refer him on due to the severity and length of time he has been suffering but it’s always physio and medication which they advocate as the best route, never surgery. Maybe they don’t deem it “bad enough?”

Will have a look at the private surgical options, thank you.

@MoominUnderWater He was 19 when it started, still has it over 30 years later with a bad bout every year or so. But the bouts getting worse and longer each time. Yes, he has had an mri which showed the herniated disc. No doctors have ever been particularly concerned. Just get the “very common” and “ the pain will ease” .

The pain is not constantly bad, some positions there is no pain. It is much worse after sitting. Also the pain “travels about” sometimes sciatica down leg, other times in his lower back or sacroiliac joint.

Bad in mornings and at nights and when sneezes.

@mechanicalpencil How is he now did he try accupunctirw again

Have a look at ankylosing spondylitis and see if the symptoms fit. Many people spend years/decades being told it’s mechanical back pain when it isn’t. The herniated disc’s could be a red herring.

@mechanicalpencil how was he diagnosed

As said before there is research on acupuncture and I personally have had it on NHS in the past. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40151436/

I am similar to your husband (disc etc...) and whilst I do have mechanical problems (arthritis now too) I also know how I perceive the pain differs depending on my psychological state. Pain is complex and there are often no easy fixes.

Tens machine might be an option. I have found them helpful in the past but I know they don't work on everyone.

@mechanicalpencil nerve root block injection '

Thanks @Deedoo , sorry I've missed a few messages lately so I will answer here.

No, he didn't try acupuncture again after that experience. He has been having bed rest as someone up post suggested and diazepam as a muscle relaxant. Things have calmed down slightly as a result and he is more mobile than before but the pain is still there so he is being extra careful.

He was diagnosed by MRI scan.

I will look into nerve root block injections, thanks.

@Slimtoddy that is very interesting. He has been going through a very bad patch with his mental health lately, I didn't think to connect the two before.

I hope you have managed to find things that work for you.

@MoominUnderWater , I have heard a bit about this recently after never having hear it before so I will take a look in greater depth.
Thanks for the suggestion.

@mechanicalpencil I think drs are awful here and just say try this try that but everything flares it up more and more. It's catch 22 isn't it. I don't think physios in the uk are qualified enough to do accupuncture

@OverlyFragrant is it always the nerve that's irritated or the muscle