If pain can be reduced with acupuncture, need for medications is eliminated or reduced , thereby decreasing the risk of side effects including sedation, which may decrease compliance with physical therapy and reduce activity. Other pain syndromes often co-exist with back pain, such as neck and shoulder pain, hip pain, or headache. These are also amenable to acupuncture treatment during management of back pain. As long as serious conditions have been ruled out, a specific diagnosis of the back pain is helpful, but not necessary , for acupuncture to be used. By reducing acute back pain, acupuncture may make chronic pain less likely to accour.
Acupuncture has little risk of worsening the condition.
Many styles of acupuncture may be useful for back pain. Treatments may consist of as few needles as one, needles inserted only in the hand, or several needles connected to an electrical stimulator. Frequency of visits is also determined according to the individual needs of the patient. In general, the longer the pain has been present, the longer it will take for acupuncture to produce a sustained response. In the treatment of back pain, as in other pain syndromes, the earlier the treatment, the more a rapid, sustained effect can be expected.