Lower Back Pain

Response tends to be quick for back pain coming from muscle and fascia; where there is nerve compression or spinal stenosis, pain management becomes the goal. Expectations differ by type, so distinguishing which it is comes first at the initial visit.

Yes. Cupping on the lumbar area and buttocks clears blood stasis and releases muscle tension, which is effective in easing lower back pain.

Herbal medicine serves to regulate pain and inflammation along with systemic conditions such as sleep and digestion. We cannot say it strengthens bone or regenerates tissue, and herbal medicine is not necessarily required for the back at all. What actually matters is how long you sit and your core strength.

It differs from person to person, and we will not claim it is "almost painless". Stiffness for a day or two afterwards is a common reaction, but this is not a treatment to endure — please tell us right away if it hurts. It is limited or not performed in osteoporosis, a history of compression fracture, recent fracture, previous spinal surgery, or pregnancy.

Acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, physical therapy and Chuna are covered by health insurance. Chuna has an annual session limit, and herbal medicine is covered only for certain conditions. The scheme can change, so we explain the current terms at your visit.

It varies a great deal with the cause. Acute cases are relatively short; where there is a structural cause such as a disc or stenosis, we think in terms of months. The goal is to shorten the painful period and keep daily life undisturbed, and we track progress by how long you can sit and how far you can walk.

We have compiled 7 questions about lumbar disc herniation — Does a lumbar disc require surgery · How long does treatment take · My disc has ruptured — can I avoid surgery

We have compiled 7 questions about spinal stenosis — Can stenosis be treated with Korean medicine · How does stenosis differ from a disc herniation · How long does treatment take

We have compiled 7 questions about sciatica — Can sciatica be treated with Korean medicine · Are sciatica and a disc herniation the same thing · How long does treatment take

A condition in which an upper vertebra has slipped forward relative to the one below it. It causes lower back pain and numbness in the legs; Korean medicine treatment strengthens the surrounding muscles and manages the pain.

A state in which a stress fracture has occurred in the pars interarticularis of a vertebra. It arises mainly at L4–L5 and is common in athletes and adolescents in their growth years.

We have compiled 7 questions about vertebral compression fracture — Can it be treated with Korean medicine · How long does treatment take · Does osteoporosis make compression fractures more likely

Numbness or pain in the leg. We distinguish nerve problems descending from the lower back from problems in the leg itself.

Pain arising in muscle and the surrounding fascia. When it spreads throughout the body it is viewed as fibromyalgia.