Islington Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment in North London

Acupuncture for Back Pain

person rubbing sore back

Acupuncture for lower back pain

  • Chronic stiffness and dull, aching pain across the lower back
  • Pain over the hips and gluteal region
  • Nerve pain running down one or both legs (sciatica-type pain)
  • Pain that worsens in cold weather or after long periods of stillness

Acupuncture for lower back pain

  • Chronic stiffness and dull, aching pain across the lower back
  • Pain over the hips and gluteal region
  • Nerve pain running down one or both legs (sciatica-type pain)
  • Pain that worsens in cold weather or after long periods of stillness

Acupuncture for upper back pain

Upper back pain occurs behind the chest and around the shoulder blades. It is often linked to poor posture, desk work, stress and tension or a pinched nerve in the neck or upper spine. Acupuncture treatment targets the neck, shoulders and thoracic spine, easing trigger points and the muscle spasm that sustains upper back pain.

  • Tightness or aching pain between or around the shoulder blades
  • Pain accompanied by neck and shoulder tension
  • Trigger points that feel tender or knotted to the touch
  • Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or screen use

What to expect

The initial consultation assesses pain location, duration, and general health and lifestyle, to build a treatment plan targeting the relevant points. It typically lasts around 50 minutes.

Fine, single-use sterile needles are inserted at selected points and left for around 20–30 minutes. Most patients feel a brief tingling or dull ache. We also use infra red lamp therapy to aid healing and circulation. Most patients need a short course of sessions, rather than a single treatment, to achieve lasting benefit.

When to see a GP or get urgent help for back pain

Most back pain is mechanical, with muscles, joints or discs as the cause. It usually improves within a few weeks, and acupuncture can be a useful part of managing it. Occasionally back pain is a sign of something that needs urgent medical attention. If any of the following apply to you, please speak to a doctor before booking.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have back pain and:

  • numbness or tingling around your genitals, bottom or inner thighs (the area you’d sit on in a saddle)
  • difficulty peeing, or you can’t tell when your bladder is full
  • loss of control of your bladder or bowels
  • new sexual problems, such as loss of sensation
  • weakness or numbness in both legs, or unsteadiness that is getting worse
  • chest pain alongside your back pain

These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, where the nerves at the base of the spine are compressed. It is rare but needs emergency treatment to prevent permanent damage.

Contact your GP or NHS 111 urgently if your back pain:

  • started after a fall, accident or other injury
  • comes with a high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
  • comes with weight loss you can’t explain
  • is constant, gets worse at night, or doesn’t ease when you rest or change position
  • comes with swelling or a visible change in the shape of your back
  • is in your upper back, between the shoulder blades, and you’re also feeling unwell
  • is new and you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, a weakened immune system or long-term steroid use
  • is so bad that you can’t sleep, or it’s getting steadily worse

Book a routine GP appointment if:

  • your pain hasn’t started to improve after four to six weeks
  • it’s stopping you from working or doing everyday things
  • you have pain, pins and needles or numbness spreading down one leg (sciatica) that isn’t settling

Acupuncture can be used alongside care from your GP, physiotherapist or osteopath. It works well as part of a wider plan for persistent back pain.

Book a consultation

Frequently asked questions

Should I see a GP before having acupuncture for back pain? 

For most everyday back pain you can book acupuncture directly. However, see a doctor first if your pain followed an injury, comes with fever or unexplained weight loss, or affects your bladder, your bowels or the feeling in your legs or groin. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to talk it through before you book.

How many sessions are required for back pain?

This depends on the duration and severity of the pain, but most patients need a short course of multiple treatments rather than a single session.

Is acupuncture safe for back pain?

Yes, when carried out by a qualified, licensed practitioner using single-use sterile needles and following British Acupuncture Council safety codes.

The research evidence for acupuncture and back pain

Vickers et al. (2012), published in JAMA Internal Medicine, pooled data from 29 trials and 17,922 patients across four chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain, finding acupuncture significantly superior to sham and no-acupuncture control.

A 2018 update in the Journal of Pain extended this to 20,827 patients and confirmed benefits persist over time and aren’t explained by placebo alone.

NICE’s chronic pain guideline (NG193, 2021) recommends considering a single course of acupuncture for chronic primary pain. Its separate low back pain guideline (NG59, 2016) does not recommend acupuncture specifically for that condition — worth discussing with a practitioner, as suitability varies by individual case.