PAIN MANAGEMENT
Acupuncture for Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, usually because a nerve root in the lower spine is irritated. Many cases improve over weeks to a few months with conservative care. Acupuncture may help with pain while you stay active and recover.
Where acupuncture fits
Acupuncture may reduce pain and muscle tension around the lower back and hip. It does not move or decompress the nerve itself, so we pair it with activity advice and, where useful, encourage you to work with a physiotherapist or your doctor.
How treatment works at Healify
- Your first visit (60 minutes) includes a full health history, a Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment and your first treatment.
- Frank explains what he thinks is contributing to your symptoms, what acupuncture can and can’t realistically do, and a suggested plan.
- Many people start with a short course of about 4–6 sessions. We review progress together, and if you aren’t seeing meaningful change we discuss whether to continue or whether another provider would help more.
Urgent symptoms
Go to an emergency department if you have numbness in the groin, buttocks or inner thighs, new difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels, or weakness in both legs. See a doctor promptly if leg weakness is getting worse or pain is severe and not improving.
Common questions
Can acupuncture cure sciatica?
We don’t describe it that way. Acupuncture may help ease pain while your body recovers, and we focus on getting you moving comfortably again.
Should I get imaging first?
Most sciatica doesn’t need imaging at first. Your doctor will advise if your symptoms suggest it.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-effectiveness-and-safety
- Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005