When is acupuncture useful for spinal hernia?

With intervertebral hernia, complex treatment is carried out aimed at reducing pain, reducing pressure on the nerve roots and preventing infringement. Acupuncture is a popular non-traditional method of maintaining the health of the spine in case of damage to the disc. The procedure is also known as acupuncture and acupuncture, and it came from China.

Acupuncture for spinal hernia is useful, and this is due to the versatile effects on the body, and the spine in particular. The technique strengthens the physical body and contributes to the preservation of mental health, and with a hernia, both suffer.

Acupuncture helps to reduce pain, stimulates blood circulation, which is extremely important for a hernia in any part of the spine.

This method as an independent method of treatment will not be effective, but in complex therapy, needles will be a good addition to eliminate an unpleasant symptomatic complex.

Non-traditional hernia treatment

It is possible to do acupuncture with a hernia of the spine during the period of remission, when there is no acute inflammation and the general condition is satisfactory. Local impact on certain points activates the protective mechanisms and the work of individual organs. The action of acupuncture can be divided into two stages. The first and main one is getting rid of pain, the most common manifestation of a herniated disc. The second stage is to improve the function of the affected spine by stimulating blood flow and reducing the inflammatory process.

The method is great for patients with osteochondrosis, when the vertebrae do not receive the necessary nutrients. An important advantage of reflexology will be the absence of a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, which often suffer from the use of painkillers.

In Chinese medicine, human health is the balance of Yin and Yang, an energy known as Qi. Life forces or Qi pass through certain meridians in the body, which can be acted upon through more than 1500 points. The disease is explained by an imbalance, and it can be restored by inserting a needle into certain areas and in the required combination.

Modern medicine explains the positive effect of acupuncture by affecting nerve and muscle fibers, as well as connective tissue. Stimulation of certain areas increases blood flow, activating the body's natural forces aimed at alleviating the pain of a herniated disc.

Benefits of acupuncture

The mechanism of therapeutic action of acupuncture for hernia is as follows:

Stimulation of the production of enkephalins and endorphins , which are natural painkillers that positively affect the physical and emotional state. These endogenous opiates reduce pain in hernia and contribute to the normalization of the psychological state.
Activation of the production of cortisol , which has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is extremely important in the pathology of the spine.
Normalization of muscle tone , removal of spasm of paravertebral structures.
Stimulation of the synthesis of serotonin , which has a positive effect on well-being, improves mood, the substance has a calming effect, while increasing the effectiveness of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Improving blood and lymph circulation , which prevents stagnant processes, activates the restoration of damaged tissues, and removes swelling.

Methodology

The modern technique of acupuncture involves the use of not only needles, but also the impact of an electrical impulse.

The essence of the procedure is as follows:

Sterile needles are inserted into specific areas on the back.
They conduct electrical impulses.
The impact of the current continues until the sensation of numbness of the skin.
The needles are rotated periodically to increase stimulation.
The current supply is stopped, the needles are removed.

The use of electrical impulses enhances the effectiveness of the procedure, which allows you to reduce the course of therapy by several procedures. This approach quickly relieves pain in the back, frees the patient from stiffness and constant discomfort.

Such a procedure can only be carried out by an experienced specialist, because during the insertion of a needle, nerve fibers can be damaged, which will only increase pain and lead to other complications.

To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is important to warn the doctor about recent and upcoming medical procedures, as well as the drugs taken, because not all methods can be combined. It is necessary to clarify with the attending physician whether it is possible to combine different procedures, and at what interval.

How effective is acupuncture?

The effectiveness of acupuncture in degenerative-dystrophic pathologies of the spine has been clinically proven. Patients respond positively to this procedure, noting a decrease in pain and an improvement in overall well-being.

Why acupuncture for hernia is becoming more popular:

the minimum number of adverse reactions, given that drugs are not used during the procedure, allergies are excluded;
correctly performed acupuncture has only a positive effect, activating protective mechanisms;
despite the fact that games are introduced under the skin during the session, the procedure remains practically painless and does not require anesthesia;
one session lasts no more than half an hour.

This method of treatment is more often prescribed to patients under 50 years old, then the procedure will be as effective as possible. Elderly people need to develop an individual program, and moxotherapy will be more effective in this case, when the needles are additionally heated.

Acupuncture is one of the most sparing methods of pain relief for intervertebral hernia. But with a large list of indications, this procedure also has limitations.

Contraindications and disadvantages

When acupuncture is contraindicated:

period of pregnancy;
feverish state;
alcohol and drug intoxication;
acute infectious diseases;
the presence of malignant and benign neoplasms;
cachexia, severe exhaustion and dehydration;
transferred myocardial infarction;
decompensated pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

This list of contraindications is standard for almost any medical technique. Acupuncture is also not recommended for patients over 75 years old, but only because with age it turns out to be ineffective, while remaining safe.

Adverse reactions from carrying out are possible only when the procedure is performed by an inexperienced doctor. It could be nerve and muscle damage. There is also a risk when several physiotherapy methods are combined at the same time.

To minimize the risk, it is recommended to prepare for the procedure:

exclude physical work the day before the session;
on the day of the procedure, do not take medications and do not receive injections;
empty the bladder before the session;
take a blood and urine test to exclude inflammatory processes;
In the morning before acupuncture, eat a light breakfast without spices.

Before the procedure, there may be excitement and anxiety, which will affect the result and the session itself. Acupuncture is immediately stopped when dizziness, nausea, chills, sweating occur. This indicates a sharp decrease in blood pressure due to the wrong choice of acupuncture points.

Many are interested in whether acupuncture helps with spinal hernia at an advanced stage of the disease. The answer is no.

The severe condition of the patient excludes such methods of treatment, and requires a surgical operation, otherwise there is a risk of disability. When there is sequestration, compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots occurs, everything possible must be done to maintain the motor activity of the spine and provide self-care.

Is acupuncture safe for hernia?

For therapy to be successful and without consequences, it is important to follow three rules:

Complex diagnostics. Before choosing a treatment, the patient must undergo a series of studies so that the doctor knows about the condition of not only the spinal column, but also other organs. In parallel, it is necessary to carry out the rehabilitation of concomitant ailments in order to increase the body's resistance. Before acupuncture, it is important to pass a general and biochemical blood test, undergo ultrasound and MRI.
Doctor's professionalism. Only a specialist who knows all 1700 points can carry out the procedure. They have anatomical landmarks in the form of vessels, exit points for nerves, tendons and muscles, so this is not a problem for a qualified doctor with extensive experience.
Impact on the right points. It is important to know not only the location of trigger points, but also how to combine them. To understand this, the doctor undergoes lengthy training, which allows him to take into account dozens of the most important rules for conducting a session in the future during each session.

A prerequisite for a safe procedure is sterility . You need to pay attention to how the doctor stores the needles. If they have already been used, there is a risk of infection and inflammation. But an even more dangerous consequence will be damage to the nerves and blood vessels due to incorrect selection of points and inability to work with needles. It is important to carefully consider the choice of clinic and doctor, because you can lose not only time and money, but also health, having the opposite effect.