Harmony Point Acupuncture

Photo Credit: Aryil Bechtel

Acupuncture offers a successful treatment for Neck and Back Pain

Acupuncture can successfully treat many different causes of back and neck pain, serving as an effective treatment on its own, or in conjunction with physical therapy. At Harmony Point Acupuncture in Gainesville, Florida, we work with patients to provide relief from

One of the most commonly recognized benefits of acupuncture is in the treatment of chronic pain conditions. Recent studies confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain. (References 1, 2 below). The benefits of acupuncture offer patients the opportunity for temporary and permanent relief without undergoing the risks of surgery and other invasive treatments.

Call for an appointment:
Bethany Bechtel, AP, PhD 352-222-3816

It is important to note that the origin of pain and its chronic persistence is due to many different potential factors. These can include joint disorders, muscle injury, abnormal changes in the body tissue, and pain resulting from imbalances in other physiological systems.

Upon your first visit we will ask you to describe your pain and undertake a thorough diagnosis based on the principles of East Asian Medicine. Our treatment protocols will be based on the diagnosis and on your response to individualized treatments over time.

Our goal is to provide you with a long-term solution for your back pain. Many patients report that their back pain decreases in intensity once the acupuncture needles are put in place during treatment sessions. Sometimes it takes a few days or a few different acupuncture treatments in order to notice a substantial difference in pain levels. After determining your rate of response, we are able to further adjust your treatments for your specific needs.

“A few months ago I had a sudden onset of excruciating low back pain that went to the left hip and all the way down my left leg to my foot. My family doctor told me it was the sciatic nerve. The anti-inflammatory and pain killer medicine did not work. I did not want to have surgery, so I research alternative treatments and practitioners. This led me to acupuncture and Dr. Bechtel.

After a couple of treatments, I began to notice a small reduction in pain. After each treatment the reduction in pain became greater and it lasted longer. After a few weeks my back/sciatic pain was all gone. I also regained all my strength in my lower back and left leg. I also felt more energy and calmness.

I cannot express in words the amount of gratitude and appreciation I have to Dr. Bechtel for taking away the low back/sciatic pain and for healing the sciatic nerve.”

Back Pain

Lumbar (low back pain) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Thoracic (mid back) and cervical (neck) pain are also leading causes of suffering for many people. Back pain can be acute or chronic with a wide variety of causes ranging from injury, age-related degeneration, or autoimmune disease. Anyone experiencing sudden onset of acute or persistent spinal pain should consult with an MD for an accurate diagnosis and necessary treatment.

The American College of Physicians has recommended acupuncture as a first line treatment for low back pain. A recent NIH-funded randomized clinical trial led by Kaiser Permanente has further demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain in older adults.

Acupuncture therapy can go hand in hand with treatments offered by your MD. Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies back pain according to the location, details, and context of symptoms. For example, dull low back pain in an elderly individual will be treated differently than spasmodic pain of the neck and upper back in a younger person. Some individuals will find relief with just a few acupuncture sessions. Others may need several months of treatment before experiencing significant improvement.

For almost all of my patients with back pain I use a type of warming needle on the area that is painful. This technique, known as moxibustion, involves placing a small heated ball of mugwort at the shaft of the needle so that the area under the acupuncture point is gently warmed from the top. Most patients find the resulting sensation to be extremely pleasant and it can be very helpful for pain relief and circulation enhancement.

Acupuncture is a major component of the 3000 year old system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) whose practice continues to evolve in modern China and many parts of the world. An acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very thin needles into key points on the body. Most (but not all) of these points lie on meridian pathways that direct the flow of “qi.” Acupuncture has traditionally been used to address a wide variety of ailments including back pain.

We are also able to teach you self-care techniques for your back pain. Bethany Bechtel offers individualized yoga therapy sessions during which she can develop a custom set of exercises and breathing technques for you to practice at home.

Dr. Bethany Bechtel offers weekly yoga classes to help you maintain your home practice. Acupuncture is a therapy and we look forward to working with you to gradually decrease your chronic back pain and provide you with a longterm solution to pain.

Dr. Bechtel can also refer you for complimentary therapies if she feels that they will assist in ameliorating your neck or back pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is acupuncture painful?

Unlike hypodermic needles, acupuncture needles are extremely thin. Insertion discomfort is minor and is often experienced as an insect-bite sensation. In many instances, patients do not feel the needle insertion at all. A sensation of heaviness or a tingling dissipating from the needled area is common but not uncomfortable. Once all the needles are in place most patients become very relaxed and many fall asleep during treatment.

2. How are the acupuncture needles sterilized?

By law acupuncture needles are sterile, disposable, and for single use only.

3. Does acupuncture have any side effects?

Acupuncture is free from major side effects. Since a small number of patients become dizzy when treated on an empty stomach I recommend having something to eat before you arrive at your appointment.

4. How often should I come for treatments?

This will depend on your specific situation.
I usually begin with weekly sessions and extend treatment intervals as back pain improves. Some patients may need on-going weekly acupuncture to keep pain under control.

5. Will acupuncture help me avoid back surgery?

If your discomfort can be managed with acupuncture then you can discuss with your doctor the possibility of skipping or postponing surgery. Should surgery still be needed acupuncture can help you to prepare and recover from the procedure.

6. Can acupuncture benefit me if I have already had back surgery?

Yes, acupuncture can be used following back surgery to manage residual pain and aid recovery.

7. I am on prescription pain medications. Can I still receive acupuncture?

Acupuncture can be used along with prescription pain medications. You may find, after several weeks of treatment, that you are able to reduce pain medication dosages. Acupuncture can also be used to address drug side effects such as constipation.

8. I have other issues besides back pain. Can acupuncture help with those?

TCM is a holistic system of medicine. Our comprehensive intake will cover all aspects of your health, and your TCM diagnosis and treatment plan will be made accordingly. All health issues and ailments are addressed simultaneously in one comprehensive treatment approach.

9. Can I receive acupuncture while going to physical therapy?

Absolutely! Acupuncture treatments work wonderfully alongside physical therapy treatment regimens prescribed by your physician.

10. Is acupuncture the same as dry needling?

Yes! Acupuncture and dry needling are different names for the same TCM modality. Licensed acupuncturists have 4 years of training in this needling modality and they are also extensively educated in TCM theory and diagnosis. Thus, licensed acupuncturist are ideally equipped to use needling techniques to address your symptoms strategically in the broader context of your overall health.

Research Results

Acupuncture for Back Pain More Effective Than Drugs: Study published in the online edition of the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain — Read the Review in Acupuncture Today

Acupuncture Found Effective for Back Pain: Study finds it superior to usual care — Read the Review in Acupuncture Today
The study reviewed appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine, May 2009
A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain showed that acupuncture treatment for chronic low back pain was more effective than standard treatments. It is recommended that acupuncture be used for treatment, alone or in conjunction with physical therapy. (Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture , and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009 May 11; 169(9):858-66)