Acupuncture for chronic back, neck, and joint pain
Pain that has hung on for months changes how your nerves handle signals. I use electroacupuncture, dry needling, and hands-on work to calm that system down and help you move more easily.
Jason Rinker, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M. · Practicing since 1999 · Columbia, PA
Pain that has outstayed its welcome
Chronic pain wears on everything: sleep, work, patience, and the things you used to enjoy. Often the original injury has healed, but the pain keeps going.
When pain lasts, the nervous system can become more sensitive and keep sounding the alarm. My treatment is aimed at both the sore area and the nerves that keep the signal running.
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Knee, hip, and hand arthritis
- Pain after an old injury
- Tension and muscle pain that keeps returning
- Pain that disturbs your sleep
If this sounds like you, let's take a look.
Book online, or call or text me with a question first.
How I approach chronic pain
I start by finding out what's driving your pain: the joints and muscles involved, the nerves that supply them, and the habits and positions that make it worse.
Then I treat at the source and along the nerve pathway, often with electroacupuncture. Where muscles are tight and tender, I may add dry needling or manual therapy.
- Your history
- Where it hurts, how long it's been going on, any injuries or surgeries, and what you've already tried.
- How you move
- How you sit, sleep, work, and train, and which movements bring the problem on.
- Nerves and muscles
- Tender points, tight bands of muscle, and how the nerves in the area respond.
- Your other care
- Imaging, test results, and what your doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor is doing, so my care fits with theirs.
- The tools I use
- Acupuncture, electroacupuncture, dry needling, cupping, and manual therapy. I choose what fits you, and I explain each one before I use it.
Your first appointment
We'll take the time to understand your pain properly before any needles go in.
We talk first
We sit down and go through what's bothering you, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you've already tried.
I look at how you move
I check your movement, where it's tender, and how your nerves and muscles respond, so treatment matches what's actually going on.
Treatment and a plan
Then I treat, often with electroacupuncture. Before you leave, I'll tell you what I found and suggest how often to come in.
Planning for long-standing pain
Pain that took a long time to build usually needs a steady plan.
- Calming the pain
- Early visits are closer together while we bring the pain down and learn how you respond.
- Building on progress
- As things improve, we space visits out and focus on movement and daily habits.
- Flare-ups
- If pain flares, we adjust quickly rather than starting over.
- Your other care
- I fit around your doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor.
What the research shows about acupuncture for chronic pain
Here is what published studies have found, in plain language. The sources are listed below if you'd like to read them.
Lasting relief
- An analysis of 39 trials with more than 20,000 patients found acupuncture eased back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain more than sham or no acupuncture.
- The same analysis found that most of the benefit was still there a year later.
Low back pain
- The American College of Physicians recommends acupuncture among the first non-drug treatments for chronic low back pain.
Knee arthritis
- In a 2021 trial of 480 people with knee osteoarthritis, 60% responded to electroacupuncture compared with 47% who had a sham treatment, and the benefit lasted through six months.
Studies vary in size and quality, and everyone responds differently. I'll always tell you honestly what I think acupuncture can do for you.
Sources
- Vickers AJ et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. J Pain, 2018.
- Qaseem A et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med, 2017.
- Tu JF et al. Efficacy of intensive acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheumatol, 2021.
Care from Jason Rinker
I'm Jason Rinker. I'm a licensed acupuncturist and a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and I've practiced since 1999. Much of my work is orthopedic and neurological care: pain, injuries, and nerve problems.
Every visit is with me from start to finish. I explain what I'm doing and why, and I adjust the plan as you change.
We treat the nervous system, not just symptoms. The goal is to help you move, sleep, and work with less pain.
- L.Ac., Licensed Acupuncturist
- Dipl. O.M., Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
- Practicing since 1999
- Private practice in Columbia, PA
Questions people ask me
Let's take a closer look at your pain
Book your first visit online, or call or text me if you'd like to ask a question first.