y hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing stra

I started having back pains a few years ago. The kind that shoot down your leg and make it difficult to walk. The doctors first tried physical therapy and I tried some Chiropractors on my own and nothing seemed to help. I would have occasional relief, but it always seemed to come back. The next thing the doctors did was send me for an MRI. This showed that I had a herniated disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. Their first solution was to inject cortisone into my spine and that’s when I started looking for alternatives. I had heard that many people would get these injections that would cover up the pain for a while but then later on they would end up injuring themselves further.

One day, my back tensed up worse than before and I could not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing strai

, but it always seemed to come back. The next thing the doctors did was send me for an MRI. This showed that I had a herniated disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae. Their first solution was to inject cortisone into my spine and that’s when I started looking for alternatives. I had heard that many people would get these injections that would cover up the pain for a while but then later on they would end up injuring themselves further.

One day, my back tensed up worse than before and I could not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing stra

ooking for alternatives. I had heard that many people would get these injections that would cover up the pain for a while but then later on they would end up injuring themselves further.

One day, my back tensed up worse than before and I could not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing stra

d not stand straight up. Any of you who have had back pain will be able to relate to this: I had to walk stooped over a little bit and every time I extended my left leg it pinched the nerve and made every step painful. I got pretty good at swinging my hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing stra

y hips and stepping out instead of stepping forward to minimize that pain, but it was time to do something.

A friend of mine had had some acupuncture done before and I decided to give it a try. I walked in, in pain, and walked out standing straight up and walking normal. I was sold. If acupuncture is done right, it is very relaxing and at times I have almost fallen asleep during a session. Please note that acupuncture is actually good for treating many types of aches and pains, not just back pain.

Here is what you can expect from an acupuncture session: You can typically get undressed to a level you are comfortable with. The acupuncturist will then place needles in specific points on your body depending upon your problem areas. These points may or may not be anywhere near your pain. For example, during my sessions for back pain, the acupuncturist has placed needles in my hands, feet, legs and back. The needles they use are very small and each one is individually sealed. Many people may tell you that the needles don't hurt at all, and most of the time that is true. Occasionally, a needle will find a hot spot and it can feel like a fire. Just let the acupuncturist know if it is beyond uncomfortable pain.

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