Patients with acute sciatica may find relief within two to three acupuncture sessions. On the other hand, patients with chronic sciatica usually require about eight to 12 treatments depending on what caused the problem (e.g. disc herniation, stenosis, bone spurs).
Acupuncture provides long-lasting pain relief
Patients in the analysis had pain relief that lasted for 12 months or more when they received between six and 15 sessions of acupuncture.
Results showed that acupuncture was more effective than conventional Western medicine (CWM) in outcomes effectiveness (RR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.16–1.25), pain intensity (MD −1.25, 95% CI: −1.63 to −0.86), and pain threshold (MD: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.98–1.17).
In general, sciatica takes 4 to 8 weeks to go through the first 2 phases of healing -no pain, all movement and strength back to normal. It may take another 1 to 4 months to get back to all activities you want to do… depending on how active you are.
Hence, acupuncture may require numerous sessions for you to see results. Usually, one can notice acupuncture's effects in around 3-4 days. However, this process is different for each person; therefore, the number of sessions and time required to see results can differ.
If you were in the acupuncture clinic for acute pain or sports injury, you may notice the pain relief almost instantly from the first treatment. For chronic pain, it may take up to 2 or 3 sessions to notice the pain subside.
Initially, the benefits of acupuncture can last a few days to a couple of weeks after each session. Over time acupuncture can provide longer-lasting, or even permanent, relief from pain, inflammation and other problems.
Go to Physical Therapy
PT usually involves most rapid relief remedies (icing, heating, massage, stretching, strength, and flexibility exercises) to provide pain relief, eliminate the underlying cause of the sciatica nerve pain, and prevent further injury and flare-ups.
How does it feel when sciatica is healing? No longer experiencing pain in the leg, calf, foot, or buttocks and having less numbness in other areas impacted by the sciatic nerve are signs of sciatica improving.
In about 90 to 95 percent of sciatica cases, the problem is successfully resolved with time and conservative, non-surgical treatments.
Neural Regeneration Research findings suggest that acupuncture effectively repairs damage to both upper and lower limb motor nerves. The findings of Electromyographic nerve conduction tests show up to 80 percent of patients respond positively to acupuncture treatment.
Sciatica can be treated effectively through physical therapy, however in severe (acute or chronic) cases, the combined effect of physical therapy and acupuncture will ensure the outcome to be highly successful.
A typical treatment course consists of weekly sessions for 6 to 10 weeks, followed by maintenance sessions beginning every other week and extending to once every month. Learn more about acupuncture and other integrative medicine services at Henry Ford.
While most patients notice a significant improvement in their symptoms after acupuncture, some may feel worse before they feel better. These minor changes are commonly referred to as a healing crisis in natural medicine circles. After the needles are removed from an acupuncture point, the area may still feel pain.
Acupuncture is also great for long term emotional health, immune response, and longevity so we recommend a minimum of one treatment per month for optimal health and wellness.
Acute sciatica is short-lived and lasts for a couple of days or weeks, Dr. Vucich says. It becomes chronic sciatica if it lasts for three months or more. “With chronic sciatica, you could live with it for years,” Dr.
The most common cause is a herniated disk in the lower spine. Another risk factor is spinal stenosis, a condition that causes the spinal column to narrow. Doctors do not know why some cases of sciatica become chronic. Many acute and chronic cases happen because of a herniated disk.
Heat can help to increase blood flow around the area of discomfort causing the muscles to loosen, therefore relieving the pressure on the sciatic nerve. A hot bath may provide temporary relief as it relaxes your muscles. Ice helps to temporarily turn off nerve receptors which can help with pain and discomfort.
Increase exercise
Exercise is a key way to prevent or help relieve sciatica. Consider these types: Aerobic exercise: walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing, and other activities that increase your heart rate without causing more pain if you already have sciatica.
Clients should avoid strenuous exercise, caffeine, junk food, alcohol, cold temperatures, digital screens, and, where possible, stressful situations. What's more, if clients leave their appointment feeling lightheaded or dizzy, they should avoid driving until they feel better.
A common treatment plan for a single complaint would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity. In general, it's common to receive 6 to 8 treatments.
It's recommended that clients should start by having 1-2 acupuncture sessions per week, for 2-4 weeks. However, clients with chronic conditions may require more frequent treatment. Whilst 1-2 sessions per week is a good baseline, it's important to assess your client's condition before beginning treatment.
Soreness from acupuncture typically dissipates within 24 hours. Although less common than soreness, bruising can occur at the needling site. These bruises usually don't hurt and last a few days after the treatment. There is no treatment necessary and they will dissipate on their own.