BACKACHE is commonly considered a nerve impingement syndrome. It may be caused by muscular strain or a slipped intervertebral disk, or it may be associated with some disease of the bones and joints of the spine. Modern medicine believes that there is some kind of structural problem that prevents the nerves from exiting the spinal cord through the spinal vertebrae and out into the body. When there is something pinching one of these nerves as it exits the spine it causes pain. Removing the obstruction to the nerve should remove the nerve pain. But it does not always work.

Understanding in Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine sees back pains as one of a few possibilities. Perhaps you will recognize your own situation below and be able to see an acupuncturist or herbalist to treat it.

Qi stagnation: This type of back pain is caused by Qi stagnation, where Qi (pronounced "Chee" and is also sometimes spelled Chi) is the energy that flows through a network of channels and meridians. This sounds much like our neurological system. If push came to shove, we could say that this Qi stagnation is the pinched nerve syndrome.

Qi stagnation lower back pain is sometimes found in women who have painful periods.

Another cause of Qi stagnation is the invasion of cold or dampness into the Qi channels that go up and down the spine. In Western culture we talk about catching a cold. In Chinese medicine we can catch a damp too. This damp and cold can end up in the meridians and slow the flow of Qi and cause pain.

Blood stagnation: The Qi is said to move the blood. Should the Qi be stagnated for long enough, then the local body fluids that are supposed to be flowing around begin to stagnate as well and that includes blood. Thus, if left untreated, the Qi stagnation can lead to blood stagnation. What was a dull ache radiating outward from the central location, can become a very sharp fixed pain. Some local trauma caused by e.g. sports injury may also results in blood stagnation.

Damp heat: This pathology can cause radiating pain that actually circles the lower back down into the groin area.

Kidney pathologies run the gambit from stones, to a deficiency of Yin or Yang in the body. Yin deficiency tends to include lower backache that is a long-term problem. A deficiency of Kidney Yang could also give rise to lower back pain. Other symptoms of Kidney Yang deficiency would be early morning diarrhea, cold hands and feet, lack of energy, pale face, hearing loss, feeling cold all the time, urination problems and low libido.

Treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be used, either separately or combined, to tackle backache. These approaches have been demonstrated to be effective. By inserting needles at precise points according to symptoms, acupuncture removes the blockage and revives the usual flow of energy. In most cases, significant improvements can be observed after acupuncture treatment. Herbal medicine is also tailored to suit individual cases according to symptoms and history of the disease