Is Acupuncture for Back Pain and Sciatica Effective?

Sciatica, including lower back pain with sciatica, is a commonly reported complaint. It's not a diagnosis, but rather a syndrome. It can impact the quality of life and decrease economic and social efficacy. There's a 1.2% to 43% prevalence rate for sciatica. In 90% of sciatica cases, a herniated disc with nerve-root compression is the cause.

The first line of treatment for sciatica is conservative treatment. Epidural steroid injections and medication are often used although they can come with complications like an epidural hematoma or side effects like dizziness and headache. Plus, the long-term benefits aren't certain. Many people turn to over-the-counter pain medication, but there's a better way — acupuncture. In fact, there's an increase in studies on acupuncture for sciatica. If you've been thinking to yourself, "where can I find acupuncture for sciatica nerve near me", or "does acupuncture help", keep reading.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is compression of your sciatic nerve, resulting in pain that radiates down your back or the side of your leg. It's often due to nerve root compression at a variety of levels in your spine or from sciatic nerve inflammation.

Degenerative disease is one of the common causes of sciatica pain, where there's a breakdown of discs that offer cushioning between your vertebrae. Another cause of sciatica pain is a fracture in the wing-shaped part of your vertebrae that leads to it slipping forward over another vertebra.

Sciatica often occurs in pregnant women because of the extra weight they're carrying that presses on their lumbar spine. Sciatic pain can result from a herniated lumbar disc, such as a slip disc where the cushioning between your vertebrae is pushed to the outer part of your spine.

Symptoms you might experience from sciatica are:

• Numbness

• Low back pain

• Tingling down your leg to your foot

• Weakness of impacted areas

Common Causes of Back Pain

Around eight out of every 10 individuals will experience lower back pain sometime in their life. Back pain is a common reason why individuals seek medical treatment.

It frequently develops without a cause that doctors can identify with imaging studies or tests. There are certain medical ailments often linked with back pain, including:

• Ligament or muscle strain: A sudden uncomfortable motion or repeated heavy lifting could strain your spinal ligaments or the muscles in your back. Constantly straining your back when you're in poor physical condition could cause painful or very uncomfortable muscle spasms.

• Osteoporosis: You can develop painful fractures in your spine's vertebrae if your bones become brittle and porous.

• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can have an effect on your lower back. Sometimes, arthritis in your spine could result in spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the space surrounding your spinal cord).

• Ruptured or bulging discs: Your discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. There is soft material in your disc that could rupture or bulge and press on a nerve. You can, however, experience a ruptured or bulging disc without back pain.

Why Choose Acupuncture for Back Pain and Sciatica?

Can acupuncture help with sciatica? Research and clinical experience both suggest yes.

Acupuncture is a licensed medical therapy that uses very fine, sterile needles placed at precise points on the body. These points often correspond to areas where nerves, muscles, and connective tissue can be stimulated. Patients usually find the treatments gentle, with minimal discomfort.

For back pain and sciatica, acupuncturists select points that influence muscle tension, circulation, and the nervous system. Stimulating these points can calm overactive pain pathways, release natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins, and relax tight muscles that contribute to nerve irritation.

Some of the areas commonly used in acupuncture for lower back pain and sciatica include:

Points in the lower back

Points behind the knees

Hip and pelvic points

Points on the hands

Abdominal points

Points on the feet and ankles

For upper back or thoracic pain, treatment may instead focus on the neck, shoulders, and upper back regions.

By targeting these carefully chosen points, acupuncture engages your body’s own healing systems, helping reduce pain and improve function with minimal side effects.

What clients say:

"I originally started seeing Kiya about 3 months ago for back pain & sciatica. I had spent the previous 5 months going to doctors, receiving x-rays, MRI’s and steroid injections. I was in much worse condition after all of this than when the pain had started and was afraid to even move, worrying it could cause more pain. I had missed a lot of work and my life became consumed with caring for my back, I spent most of my day laying on the floor. I was skeptical to try acupuncture but it was a last resort. When I first showed up to Kiya’s office she immediately made me feel better, her stories of dealing with clients with sciatica and how they all found relief gave me an ounce of hope again! After the first week I started to notice changes in my pain, where it was and how long it lasted.

Kiya was so excited to hear this as she knew my body was responding to the acupuncture! After about 3 weeks of acupuncture treatments, I was back to my normal life! Able to stay at work full time again and even able to go back to my yoga classes and resume my social life! At this point I was still hesitant as I had bouts of normalcy through the months followed by painful sciatica attacks. Now 3 months later I can say without a doubt that the attacks are a thing of the past! If I ever am having a stressful week where the pain is acting up, I know I can rely on Kiya to get me in right away and the pain will be fixed almost immediately. I am able to go a few weeks without needing the acupuncture for my back but I have noticed so many other improvements from it that my appointments have become my favorite part of the week! I have noticed a reduced stress level, reduced hormonal changes and reduced anxiety! I am now able to sleep comfortably at night knowing that whatever is thrown my way I can rely on Kiya to come to the rescue!"

- Katie F.

How Acupuncture Works for Pain

The exact way acupuncture relieves pain isn’t fully understood, but researchers have identified several physiological effects that help explain its benefits for conditions like back pain and sciatica:

Neurotransmitter release: Acupuncture can influence the release of neurotransmitters — the chemical messengers that regulate how nerve signals are sent and processed. This can help calm pain signals.

Nervous system modulation: Stimulating specific points activates the peripheral and central nervous system, which can prompt the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals from muscles, the brain, and the spinal cord.

Endorphin and opioid-like release: Acupuncture has been shown to increase the body’s own production of endorphins and other opioid-like substances, which act as natural painkillers.

Improved circulation and muscle relaxation: By influencing blood flow and reducing muscle tension, acupuncture can help restore proper movement patterns, relax tight areas, and reduce inflammation.

Clinical research supports these effects. Large trials have shown that acupuncture can improve chronic low back pain with minimal side effects, and systematic reviews suggest it may reduce sciatica symptoms more effectively than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It can also enhance the effectiveness of other treatments, sometimes allowing for lower medication doses and fewer side effects.

In practice, acupuncture sessions can promote muscle relaxation, support balance across the hip, pelvis, and spine, and encourage your body to reset unhealthy tension patterns. Over time, this may help your back heal naturally.

Once your pain improves, maintaining back health is key. Gentle stretching, core strengthening, and movement practices such as walking, swimming, or tai chi can help keep your muscles and joints strong and flexible.

Bottom line: Yes — acupuncture can be an effective option for sciatica and back pain, with growing evidence to back it up.

Contact us to book your appointment and start getting relief.