Pros and Cons of Acupuncture

 

What are the negatives about acupuncture for back pain?

 

Acupuncture is quite safe when performed by a skilled practitioner and has few complications. It is widely available and may help relieve pain. Individuals who do not like to take pills may find that acupuncture is a better alternative.

However, acupuncture does have a few negatives. It should never be done in any individual with a blood coagulation problem or has broken skin. There are many instances of needles breaking inside the body and damaging internal organs. Further if the needles are re-used (and this is a commonly done to  save money), there is always a chance of transmitting an infection process.

So before you go and get acupuncture for your back pain, always ask for recommendations. Check the training of the therapist and most important find out what is the cost. The majority of medical insurance carriers and Medicare do not cover the costs of acupuncture. And the treatment does not come cheap. Each session can cost anywhere from $80-$150 dollars and you can add the maths for a minimum of 20 sessions.

Finally acupuncture only seems to help less than 5% of people with back pain. It is hard to know who will respond to acupuncture and the duration of pain relief is very short.