Sciatica causes severe pain that spreads and can make it impossible to sit, walk, or even sleep. The pain usually starts in the lower back and moves through the hips and down one leg. Many people feel better after taking a break, taking medicine, or stretching. Some people might want to try acupuncture or other complementary therapies.

If you’re thinking about getting acupuncture for sciatica in Adelaide, this is all the information you need to know about how it works and what to expect.

What Causes Sciatica?

When the sciatic nerve gets pinched or irritated, it can cause sciatica. You can feel tingling, burning, numbness, or pain that feels like electricity going down your leg.

Some common explanations are:

Discs that have slid or bulged.
Tight muscles, especially in the glutes (piriformis syndrome)
As you get older, your spine may change in ways such as the discs being smaller (spinal stenosis) or breaking down.

How Acupuncture Could Help with Sciatic Pain

Acupuncture is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that uses very thin needles to touch certain regions of the body. From a modern biomedical point of view, acupuncture might help:

Help blood flow to the area around the nerve that hurts.
Loosen up muscles that are tight and can be putting stress on nerves.
Help the body create endorphins, which are natural painkillers.
A lot of people have varied opinions about acupuncture, but a lot of them think it can assist with pain.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

At Yi Hong Acupuncture Clinic in Adelaide, every appointment starts with a complete consultation to find out about your medical history and symptoms. Most of the time, treatment includes:

Putting small, clean needles on the lower back, hips, and legs
A relaxing 30 to 45 minutes while the needles work.
Suggestions for changing how you sit, doing some simple stretches, or getting help moving around

The number of sessions will depend on how well you respond and how healthy you are overall.

Safety and Possible Side Effects

When done by trained specialists, acupuncture is usually safe. We utilise sterile, single-use needles and follow rigors guidelines about cleanliness at work.

People might think:

Some pain or bruising at the places where the needles went in
A little bit of tiredness, feeling dizzy (not very often)

If you have a bleeding problem or take blood thinners, you should see your doctor before getting acupuncture.

Can Acupuncture help with Sciatica?

Some people think that acupuncture can help with sciatic pain when used with other treatments, but it is not a cure. If you’ve tried relaxing, stretching, or taking medicine and they didn’t work, acupuncture is another option that can help you feel better and move around more easily.

Acupuncture works best when it is used with other modalities, like:

Light exercise or therapy for the body
Core-strengthening exercises
Help with the best posture and ergonomics

Are you Ready to Seek Acupuncture for Sciatica in Adelaide?

At Yi Hong Acupuncture Clinic, we’ve been in business for more than 20 years and take a whole-body, personalised approach to healing. We want you to know that you have all the information and help you need at every step.

Call us today to set up an appointment and see whether acupuncture can assist with the discomfort in your sciatic nerve.

Bursitis makes your joints hurt a lot and for a long time, which makes it hard to move around every day. It usually gets worse at the knee, elbow, shoulder, or hip. Most individuals start with rest and medicines, but some opt for natural ways to feel better when the pain doesn’t go away. That’s when acupuncture for bursitis comes into play.

This guide explains how acupuncture works, what the research says about it, and whether or not you should try it if you have persistent joint pain.

What does bursitis mean?

When the little, fluid-filled sacs (called bursae) that protect your joints get inflamed, you get bursitis. These sacs make it easier for bones, muscles, and tendons to move around. But when they get irritated or used too much, they swell, which hurts, makes them stiff, and occasionally makes them red.

Some common causes are:

Doing the same thing over and over (like lifting or kneeling)
Injury or trauma that happens all of a sudden
Conditions like arthritis or gout that are underlying

What is the usual way to treat bursitis?

The usual treatment for mild instances is:

Ice and rest
NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Stretching and physical treatment that aren’t too hard
In more serious or recurring occurrences, doctors may suggest corticosteroid injections or, in rare cases, surgery.

But not everyone does well with medication or wants to depend on it for a long time. That’s why more and more individuals are using acupuncture as an extra treatment.

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves putting small needles into certain parts of the body to:

Make neurones and muscles work harder
Get more blood to the places that are hurt.
Start the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers.

From a biological point of view, acupuncture may aid with swelling, blood flow, and relaxing tight muscles around the joint.

What Studies Say About Acupuncture for Bursitis

There isn’t much clinical research on acupuncture for bursitis, but it is growing. A number of short studies and case reports indicate that acupuncture may:

Lower shoulder pain induced by subacromial bursitis
Increase the range of motion in the joint that hurts
Less need for painkillers

Dr. Fiona Lee, a licenced acupuncturist in Melbourne, says, “We see a lot of success treating bursitis with acupuncture, especially in the shoulder and hip.” “Most patients say their pain goes down after just a few sessions.”

More high-quality research are needed, but the evidence we have thus far shows that some people can get real relief.

Acupuncture for Bursitis: What Are the Benefits?

Pain relief without drugs: Perfect for folks who want to stay away from NSAIDs for a long time.
Better ability to move: Loosens up stiff muscles and lets you move more freely.
Less inflammation: Acupuncture can help lessen the levels of pro-inflammatory indicators in the body.
Few side effects: Most people only feel a little sore after a session.

What to Expect During a Session

Acupuncturists usually work on points close to the joint that hurts and the muscles that are connected to it. A session normally lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. You might need one or two sessions a week for a few weeks, depending on your condition.

You can also get exercises or advice on how to stand up straight to help you heal.

Are there any Risks?

Acupuncture is usually safe when done by a trained professional. Side effects are rare, but they can happen.

Soreness or light bruising
Short-term tiredness
Dizziness (in very uncommon circumstances)

People who have bleeding disorders or are on particular blood thinners shouldn’t do it.

Should You Get Acupuncture for Bursitis?

If resting or taking painkillers hasn’t helped your bursitis, you might want to think about acupuncture. It doesn’t hurt and is low-risk. It might assist with both pain and swelling. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist first, especially if your symptoms are getting worse or are really bad. Make an appointment at our Adelaide Acupuncture clinic to find out how we can assist.

Can Acupuncture Help Sciatica? A Natural Option for Managing Nerve Pain