What are the benefits of our TCM back pain relief treatment?

TCM back pain relief treatments in Singapore are more than just massages. They address pain areas from a holistic point of view to provide relief from chronic back pain. Since the techniques and methods employed target specific issues that promote better blood flow and circulation, they support the body in healing itself the natural way quickly.

Should I get TCM treatments for back pain?

TCM treatments are suitable for people who are experiencing chronic back pain. If you have tried Western treatments, supplements or medicine for your back pain and still feel discomfort, give TCM methods a try. If you have illnesses such as cancer or liver disease, it’s advisable to consult with your physician before undergoing TCM treatments. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, and children are also advised to seek advice from a medical doctor in Singapore before opting for lower back pain treatments through TCM.

Why choose Sin Kang TCM for back pain relief?

Sin Kang TCM’s TCM Board-accredited practitioners have over 20 years of practice in providing back massages and treatments in Singapore for pain management. The holistic, all-natural, and non-invasive TCM methods can help address and prevent pain by utilising the body’s natural healing process while correcting and resolving the root cause of chronic back pain. Meanwhile, trained and qualified specialists for back pain can advise on suitable treatment for back pain relief and address conditions such as frozen shoulder, neck pain, and more. If you’re looking for a natural way to address your pain, TCM methods are natural and free from foreign substances like concentrated chemicals. If you have further queries about back pain and TCM treatments, you can book an appointment to learn more.

When should I consider surgery for my back pain?

Receiving surgical treatment in Singapore is recommended for individuals with back pain if they have a history of cancer that has spread to the spine, significant spinal instability, or the emergence of a new neurologic deficit like foot drop. In cases with a neurologic deficit, surgery is recommended to prevent permanent impairment.

How can I prevent back pain in the future?

To prevent future back pain, prioritise regular exercise. This reduces the likelihood of hurting yourself during movements and helps you maintain a healthy weight to prevent exerting pressure on the back. You can also adopt a balanced diet to support overall health, sleep on your side with a pillow under your lower abdomen for support, and maintain proper posture, especially when seated for prolonged hours.

Is Sin Kang TCM’s back pain treatment covered by insurance in SIngapore?

Whether your treatment for back pain at Sin Kang TCM is covered under insurance varies based on your chosen policy. It is recommended that you consult with your specific insurance provider in Singapore to understand the extent of coverage, as each policy has its terms regarding alternative therapies like TCM.

Back Pain Massage Treatment Singapore

What Are the Different Causes of Back Pain?

Identifying underlying causes of back pain enables back pain massage specialists in Singapore to make a complete diagnosis and identify which type of TCM techniques should be applied. These are some of the common causes of chronic back pain:

1. Poor Posture

Slouching or sitting cross-legged are among the main causes of chronic back pain. Slouching forward increases pressure in between the shoulder blades, causing you to flatten your back muscles. Meanwhile, sitting cross-legged causes one side of your hip joint to be slightly higher than the other. Your pelvic bones thus go out of balance while the pelvis and spine become misaligned, causing chronic back pain.

2. Health Problems

Stagnating Qi

Existing health problems can cause chronic back pain. The elderly and cancer patients are prone because their muscles, body, and immune systems are weakened, and the pain is a result of their Qi (vital energy) stagnating or weakening due to tensions or blockages in certain areas of the body (meridians). When the body’s organs, particularly the kidney where the “gas tank” of Qi is rooted, become deficient, they won’t function fully. This results in pain in different parts of the body, including the back that individuals subsequently address via treatments in Singapore.

Weak Defensive Qi

Another health-related factor in TCM leading to chronic back pain is the invasion of external pathogens such as too much Cold, Wind, Dampness, or Heat. When these six energies become excessive (combined with sudden changes in environmental circumstances and a weak defensive Qi), you are likely to be at risk of external invasions through your skin pores, become unhealthy or even experience viral infections.

3. Muscle and Ligament Strains

You'll also experience chronic back pain in the lower back due to muscle and ligament strains. If you’ve had physical trauma from external sources or sustained muscle and soft tissue sprains, these conditions also contribute to back pain.

4. Spinal Problems and Other Illnesses

Common spinal problems that can cause chronic back pain include arthritis, joint degeneration, and herniated discs. In TCM, Bamboo Spine (Zhu Jie Yang) is another condition that causes back pain because the vertebrae or the bones in your spine fuse. This inflammatory disease happens over time and is common among men.

5. Nerve Root Impingement

Spinal nerve root impingement happens when a spinal nerve is compressed or trapped due to shifts in the spine's natural anatomy, causing it to be pressed against by other components. Excess weight, spinal arthritis, and age-related bone spurs can contribute to this compression.

5. Scoliosis

Scoliosis is where the spine curves to one side, displacing the rib cage and straining back muscles, leading to significant pain. While it affects both adults and children, the pain adults experience can be of greater intensity.

6. Fractures

Vertebral fractures typically result from incidents such as falls, car crashes, or acute bone injuries. As age advances, especially in the presence of osteoporosis, the likelihood of fractures increases due to the increased brittleness of the bones in the back.

What Types of Back Pain are There?

1. Acute Pain

Acute back pain is a type of back pain that lasts from one day to four weeks. This kind of back pain is short-term and often attributed to common injuries from performing day-to-day activities. These include lifting heavy boxes or bending your torso incorrectly when doing simple chores like sweeping the floor or even making the bed. Individuals in Singapore with acute pain normally heal on their own and don't require back pain treatments.

2. Subacute Pain

Subacute back pain lasts from four up to 12 weeks. It may be caused by muscle spasms or strains. You can consult a practitioner in Singapore if you need any back pain relief treatments to prevent it from turning into chronic back pain.

3. Chronic Pain

Chronic back pain can last for more than 12 weeks. You may feel severe stabbing pain in your upper or lower back area, making it hard for you to move and function normally. You are advised to seek help, as untreated pain of such can impact your overall physique and well-being. When you’re experiencing chronic back pain, going for a back pain massage and other TCM treatments in Singapore can offer relief, but discussing options with a specialist first is important.

4. Upper Back Pain

Pain in the upper back can manifest anywhere from the neck's base to the lower rib cage. This discomfort may stem from injuries, fractures, poor posture, disk-related problems, or other conditions like arthritis. It is less common than neck or lower back pain due to the comparatively limited movement and flexibility in the upper back bones.

5. Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain often stems from muscle or tendon strains, arthritis, structural issues, or disk injuries. The severity of pain varies and it can sometimes hinder daily activities, walking, or sleeping. Resting and receiving treatments in Singapore can alleviate pain. Weight management and staying active can also reduce the risk of lower back issues.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Back Pain?

Chronic back pain in the upper back region includes feeling a sharp or burning pain on a specific part of the upper back. Achy and throbbing pain, as well as muscle stiffness and tightness, are also common. If you’re experiencing chronic upper back pain, you may also feel the pain radiating down towards your lower back. Other chronic back pain symptoms are experiencing weakness or radiating pain along the nerves.

Symptoms for chronic lower back pain are slightly different. You may experience muscle spasms or tightness, making it difficult for you to move. Chronic back pain in the lower back area may cause you to have a hard time standing up straight from a sitting position. You may also find it too painful even to move.

How Do We Diagnose Chronic Back Pain?

For specialists to properly diagnose your chronic back pain, you must supply all the necessary information during the consultation process.

The information helps the specialist to gather important details about your back pain. These include how long you’ve been experiencing back pain, which areas are painful, and other related lifestyle habits & medical information. Several tools may also be employed to identify if specific medical conditions are the cause of your pain, and these include:

1. X-Rays and CT Scans

Spine X-rays and CT Scans help determine if there are fractures or bone issues.

2. MRI

MRIs are used to detect conditions like slipped discs, nerve compression, bone or spinal canal infections, fractures, or tumours.

3. Nerve Conduction Study and Electromyogram

Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) and Electromyogram (EMG) help identify nerve abnormalities and differentiate between nerve root and muscle disorders. This enables the specialist to pinpoint the specific cause of your back pain.

Once your chosen specialist in Singapore studies all the information you’ve provided, a proper diagnosis and suitable lower back pain treatment for your condition can be proposed.

Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatments in Singapore

If your back pain is mild, taking a short break can often alleviate low back pain. However, prolonged bed rest longer than 2 to 3 days is generally discouraged. Besides this, employing the following non-surgical treatments in Singapore may help in alleviating your condition:

1. Braces

Back braces are commonly used for added support and comfort in the short term.

2. Local Muscle Injections

Common injections include local anaesthetic, hypertonic glucose, or steroids administered to the suspected pain source. They deactivate the muscles and reduce inflammation, allowing the painful area to heal.

3. Exercise and Stretching

Engaging in specific exercises to restore motion and strength in the lumbar spine can help relieve pain. Examples include aerobic activities like walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and spine-specific strengthening and stretching exercises.

2. TCM Massages

TCM massages in Singapore may target specific areas of pain in your back and can help with muscle strains and soft tissue-related problems.

5. Chinese Acupuncture

Needling acupuncture points prompts the nervous system to release various chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. This includes endorphins and other neurochemicals, which can alter the pain experience. The process also positively affects the nerve and hormone function while triggering the body's inherent healing abilities.

Why Should You Try TCM as a Non-Surgical Treatment for Back Pain Relief?

Have you been experiencing chronic back pain and searching for an alternative way to treat lower back pain? TCM is a natural and affordable alternative to address chronic back pain without any side effects. Instead of spending money on costly prescription drugs and supplements that may even cause long-term side effects on your body, TCM massage therapy for your back pain can help you find relief safely and effectively.

A non-surgical back pain treatment done by a trained therapist in Singapore is a suitable alternative to providing relief

How Does Sin Kang TCM Provide Back Pain Relief?

At Sin Kang TCM, we use these techniques for back pain relief:

Tui Na Massage for Back Pain Relief

Tuina is a traditional Chinese massage therapy that can alleviate back pain symptoms and help maintain your daily overall health. This treatment uses dynamic acupressure techniques coupled with Chinese medical principles to loosen up and remove Qi blockages at key points in the body.

By applying different pressures on the body’s different acupoints using the fingers, fists, hands, and palms, this massage technique for back pain relieves patients from any discomfort in their upper or lower back areas. Through this TCM massage technique, muscle adhesions are loosened, which aids in allowing an unobstructed flow of Qi (vital energy) and also improves muscle strength significantly. If you feel any discomfort during the massage, Tui Na therapists in Singapore can adjust the intensity of each session to suit your pain tolerance threshold and ensure you are comfortable throughout. In doing so, you will enjoy the feeling of your body relaxing and relief from any muscle tension.

Back Pain Acupuncture Treatment

Chinese acupuncture is one of the popular TCM treatments in Singapore and has a wide range of health benefits. It involves the use of needles to access the body’s acupoints with highly targeted accuracy. This TCM technique may seem intimidating, especially if you are afraid of needles. However, acupuncture treatments cause minimal discomfort as the needles are non-invasive, so they are not meant to cause you to feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Many patients have even shared that they do not feel anything entering the skin throughout the treatment process!

Acupuncture is a suitable upper and lower back pain treatment. It helps restore normal blood flow by stimulating electromagnetic signals and blood circulation, releasing natural ‘pain killer’ hormones and enzymes such as endorphins, immunity cells, and neurotransmitters. This clears Qi blockage in the body, provides long-lasting back pain relief, and allows the body to heal faster naturally.

Cupping Treatment for Back Pain

Many Singaporeans have embraced cupping for its pain relief and rejuvenation benefits. Cupping treatments use heated glass or bamboo cups to pull up skin and stimulate blood flow, which can restore Qi flow in affected areas of the body. Said pulling force forces blood circulation towards the area where lower back pain is present. This TCM technique enables the blood to circulate and flow better to the area where you are experiencing chronic back pain. As a result, your body will trigger its natural healing process, providing back pain relief. Aside from relieving back pain, Cupping can also be an alternative treatment for other common ailments, including high blood pressure, neck pain, or nasal congestion.

Osteopathy Treatment for Back Pain

Osteopathy detects, treats, and prevents health-related problems such as chronic back pain. This is achieved through various gentle hands-on techniques such as stretching, joint mobilisation and movement, manual bone manipulation and massage for back pain. While chiropractors specialise in manual bone adjustments, osteopaths in Singapore incorporate manual realignment and manipulation of not just bones but joints and soft tissues. This is combined with back massage techniques tailor-fitted to the different needs of their patients. These treatments aim to improve blood flow to help restore your joints’ mobility, prevent bone misalignment, improve tissue elasticity, relieve back muscle pain and stiffness, and reduce muscle tension.

Back Pain TCM Specialists

For enhanced results from back pain therapy, it is advisable to seek help from a trusted and qualified practitioner to administer the TCM treatments. At Sin Kang TCM, our board-certified TCM practitioners have years of practice and specialise in back pain treatment in Singapore. Our TCM specialists have addressed numerous cases of back stiffness, back muscle pain, sprained back, and other conditions involving back pain.

For further queries about back pain treatments, do not hesitate to speak to us.