Severe spinal osteoarthritis obviously reduces the effectiveness of acupuncture which, although
it will produce an improvement, may never completely cure it. However, it is important not to
attribute excessive importance to a diagnosis of spinal osteoarthritis as this often has no
correlation with clinical symptoms. For example, many patients show severe osteoarthritic
changes in the spine without suffering any backache. Conversely, sometimes very slight
degenerative changes in the vertebrae may produce severe pain. This apparent paradox can be
explained in the light of the Chinese pathology of backache: there are other factors at play,
besides spinal osteoarthritis, producing backache, i.e. sprain, Damp-Cold and a Kidney
deficiency.
Thus, if a patient suffering from chronic backache presents with X-rays pronouncing spinal
osteoarthritis, it is important always to keep in mind the possibility that such degenerative
changes are not related to the pain experienced by the patient. This explains how many patients
with supposedly fairly severe osteoarthritis of the spine, do respond to acupuncture extremely
well. Of course, if severe spinal osteoarthritis is the cause of the pain in old people, then
acupuncture will be less effective.
As for prolapsed disc, acupuncture can be very effective to treat both acute and chronic cases of
disc herniation as the nucleus pulposus can be reabsorbed into the annulus fibrosus. The
treatment principle and selection of points do not differ from those indicated above for acute and
chronic backache. Obviously, in acute cases of disc herniation treatment should be given every
day for at least one week. After that, it can be spaced out to every 2-3 days. In that time, the
patient should have complete bed-rest.
As for prevention, as indicated above, probably the main underlying cause of chronic backache
in Western industrialized countries is the lack of exercise. Many people lead a very sedentary life
and have almost no exercise. In order to prevent backache, such people should be encouraged to
take regular exercise even if it is only brisk walking. Tai Ji Chuan is an excellent form of
exercise which gently strengthens the back and keeps all sinews and ligaments supple. Gentle
back stretching and twisting exercises are also important.
Those who have a tendency to back sprain should never lift heavy weights as this not only can
cause an acute sprain, but also weakens Kidney-Qi. Those who have a tendency to back
problems and a Kidney deficiency should also reduce their sexual activity. This applies to men
more than women.
It should also be said, with regard to prevention, that excessive exercise is also a frequent cause
of back problems. In particular excessive jogging or aerobic exercises can cause back sprain.
This is more likely to occur to those who start engaging in such activities fairly abruptly in their
late 30s or early 40s after a completely sedentary life.