Short answer: acupuncture is commonly used for back, neck and shoulder pain, and pain is the most researched use of acupuncture, with large reviews finding it helpful for chronic musculoskeletal pain. At Key Element in Westminster, most people plan on six to ten treatments, one to two a week at first, with cupping or gua sha added when the muscle needs more than needles alone.
This guide explains how acupuncture may help with back, neck and chronic pain, what happens in a session, how many visits to plan for, and where cupping, gua sha and the Balance Method fit in.
Can acupuncture help with back and neck pain?
Pain is the most researched use of acupuncture and the one with the strongest evidence behind it. Large reviews of clinical trials have found acupuncture helpful for chronic musculoskeletal pain, headache and osteoarthritis, with benefits that persisted beyond the treatment course.
It is not right for every kind of pain, and Autumn will tell you honestly whether she thinks it is likely to help yours. Acupuncture works alongside your other care rather than replacing it; many people come wanting to try something before, or alongside, medication and surgery.
What kinds of pain do people come in for?
Both chronic pain that has built up over years and acute pain from a recent injury. The most common complaints at the Westminster clinic are:
- Back, neck and shoulder pain, including desk-job aches and stress stiffness
- Headaches and migraines, including ones that travel up from a tight neck and jaw
- Joint pain and arthritis, including wear-and-tear osteoarthritis pain
- Injuries and surgery recovery, where the goal is to manage pain and support healing
How does acupuncture work on chronic pain?
Hair-thin needles at specific points increase blood flow to the area, prompt the release of the body’s own pain-relieving hormones including endorphins, and calm the nervous system’s pain signalling.
That matters most for chronic pain: when pain persists for months, the nervous system often becomes more sensitised to it, so calming it down is part of addressing the pain. Pain and stress also feed each other, which is where acupuncture for stress and anxiety overlaps.
What is the Balance Method, and why does it matter for pain?
Alongside Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn trained in the Balance Method taught by Dr. Richard Tan, a third-generation Taiwanese acupuncturist. It is used for pain, OB/GYN concerns, digestive complaints, insomnia and general wellness.
For pain, its practical advantage is that treatment can work distally, away from the sore spot, when the painful area itself is too sore to needle.
When are cupping and gua sha added?
When muscle is tight and the tissue is not moving, Autumn may add cupping or gua sha after the needles come out, and she explains it first.
Cupping
Glass cups create gentle suction on the skin, drawing blood flow into the area so the tissue can repair. It leaves the round marks you may have seen on athletes; they are not bruises and fade within a few days.
Gua sha
A smooth tool is used to scrape gently along the muscle, breaking up stagnation from an injury and encouraging circulation into the area. It is particularly useful across the shoulders and upper back.
What happens at a pain appointment?
- The intake. Your first visit starts with a full intake. Some questions will not seem related to your pain; they are how Autumn looks for the root of it rather than only the symptom. Come a few minutes early, and eat something a couple of hours beforehand.
- The treatment. Needles go in, then you rest with them for 25 to 30 minutes. Many people fall asleep. Wear something that can be pulled up past the elbows and knees.
- Anything else needed. Autumn removes the needles and adds cupping or gua sha if your treatment calls for it.
All needles are sterile, single-use and disposed of after your treatment. Side effects are minimal: occasionally a small bruise.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need for chronic pain?
Autumn generally suggests committing to six to ten treatments to know whether acupuncture is working for you. Depending on your situation, treatments start one to two times a week and are spaced out as the pain improves. Chronic pain that has been present for years usually takes more treatments than a recent injury.
Some people feel a change during the first treatment; more often, relief builds over the first few visits. You re-evaluate as you go rather than buying a fixed course up front. For maintenance once pain has settled, the lower-cost Acu-Lounge, a shared room with zero gravity chairs, is a good fit.
How much does acupuncture for pain cost near Denver?
A first visit is $145 and includes the full intake. Follow-up treatments are $95, or $110 with cupping. Key Element provides a super-bill with diagnostic codes that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, so check your coverage before your first visit. Our acupuncture price guide for the Denver area covers insurance, HSA and FSA use, and what a full course costs.
Pain is the most commonly covered reason for acupuncture. See the pain management page for more.
Who will be treating you?
Every treatment is given by Autumn Jensen, L.Ac., MSOM: a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado, a Diplomate of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (NCCAOM), and a Nationally Certified Chinese Herbalist, with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College, more than 3,000 hours of education, and over 1,000 hours of clinical practice.
Autumn also studied at the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine Hospital in Harbin, China, including its Rehabilitation and Orthopedics departments, and came to acupuncture after struggling with pain herself.
“I’m grateful for everything you did in helping me to complete my marathon in New Hampshire last month. I was able to run pain free. Thanks!” — Skip
Where is Key Element Acupuncture?
Key Element Acupuncture is at 9035 Wadsworth Pkwy, Suite 3450, Westminster, CO 80021, inside the Silo Office Building at 90th and Wadsworth. It sits just off Highway 36 between Denver and Boulder, and patients come from Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Thornton and across the north Denver metro. Hours are Monday 11:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday 9:00am to 1:00pm, Wednesday 1:00pm to 6:00pm, and Thursday 11:00am to 4:00pm. Call (720) 443-2248 if you cannot find a time online, because Autumn will do her best to fit you in.
Frequently asked questions
How many acupuncture sessions will I need for back or neck pain?
Autumn generally suggests committing to six to ten treatments to know whether acupuncture is working for you. Chronic pain that has been present for years usually takes more treatments than a recent injury, and the number is re-evaluated as you go.
Does acupuncture for pain hurt?
The needles are hair-thin, and most of the time you will not feel them go in. You may notice a brief poke or a heavy, aching sensation, which is a sign your body is responding.
Will cupping leave marks?
Cupping can leave round marks like the ones you may have seen on athletes. They are not bruises, and they fade within a few days.
Can I use acupuncture alongside physical therapy, chiropractic care or medication?
Yes. Acupuncture works alongside the care you already have. Keep your own doctor informed and do not stop any treatment without talking to them.
How much does acupuncture for pain cost in Westminster?
A first visit is $145 including the full intake. Follow-ups are $95, or $110 when cupping is included. Key Element provides a super-bill you can submit to your insurer.
This article is general educational information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by your own health care provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.