Acupuncture for back pain and sciatica in Gothenburg
Acupuncture is often used for long-term back pain and sciatica, and research suggests it can ease pain and improve movement for some people. At Dr. Tian Akupunktur in Eriksberg, Gothenburg, both the lower back and pain radiating down the leg are treated, often together with cupping or gua sha. Acupuncture complements physiotherapy and the other care you receive.
The TCM view
How TCM understands back pain and sciatica
In traditional Chinese medicine the lower back is linked to Kidney energy. Long-standing back pain is often seen as a weakness there, frequently combined with cold, damp or stagnation in the channels that run along the spine.
Pain that shoots down the leg roughly follows the Gallbladder and Bladder channels. That is why Dr. Tian places needles both in the back and along the leg, sometimes right down to the foot.
The treatment
How treatment works
At your first visit, the health consultation, you go through where it hurts, which movements make it worse, any past injuries and how you sit and stand at work. Dr. Tian also examines your pulse and tongue.
Acupuncture is often combined with cupping over the lower back and with gua sha, both of which increase circulation in the muscles and connective tissue. You also get simple advice on heat, movement and how much to do between sessions.
Experience and research
Dr. Tian’s experience and what the research says
Back and neck pain are what Dr. Tian has treated most in more than 40 years of practice, first at university hospitals in China and then at her clinic in Eriksberg. She completed her PhD at the Sahlgrenska Academy in 2008.
Acupuncture for chronic lower back pain has been examined in many studies, and several suggest it can reduce pain and improve mobility. If you suddenly develop weakness in your legs, numbness around the groin or difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels, seek emergency care straight away.
Expectations
What to expect
A typical plan is one or two sessions a week at first, then spaced further apart. In Dr. Tian’s experience, recent back pain often responds faster than problems that have lasted for years.
Progress is rarely a straight line. Many people find their back first moves more freely and the pain then becomes less constant. How your back responds depends on how long you have had the pain and what lies behind it.
Treatments often used
Every new patient starts with a health consultation or a first visit that includes acupuncture. Dr. Tian then suggests the treatments that suit you.
Health consultation
30 minPulse and tongue diagnosis, and a treatment plan made for you.
SEK 550
BookHealth consultationAcupuncture, first visit
60 minA 30-minute health consultation followed by 30 minutes of acupuncture.
SEK 1,400
BookAcupuncture, first visitAcupuncture, follow-up
50 minSterile single-use needles placed at points chosen for your TCM diagnosis.
SEK 1,050
BookAcupuncture, follow-upCupping
45 minGentle suction that lifts the tissue and increases blood flow in tense muscles.
SEK 800
BookCupping
On Saturdays a supplement of SEK 180 applies to all treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Does acupuncture help with a slipped disc?
Acupuncture can ease the pain and muscle tension around a slipped disc, but it does not change the disc itself. Many people use it to cope better with daily life and rehabilitation. If you have had a scan or a diagnosis, bring the details to your consultation.
Are the needles placed where it hurts?
Often there and elsewhere. For sciatica, points along the leg and in the foot are used, sometimes on the opposite side of the body too. In TCM, a point far from the pain can still influence it through the channel.
Can I exercise as normal?
Avoid strenuous exercise on the day of treatment. Otherwise, movement is usually good for your back. Dr. Tian will advise you on how much your back can take for now and how to build up as the pain eases.
Conditions that often go together
- Neck and shoulder painA stiff neck, aching between the shoulder blades, frozen shoulder and whiplash, treated as a whole.
- Stress and exhaustionFor long periods of stress, shallow sleep, an unsettled stomach or exhaustion.
- Sleep problemsTrouble falling asleep, waking in the night or waking too early: three different patterns in TCM.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.