acupuncture for back pain

I have had severe back pain for many years and want to try out acupuncture. Do you recommend it?

Acupuncture is never the first treatment for any medical disorder. In most cases, it does not even work. Many studies have shown that acupuncture is no more effective for back pain than sham acupuncture- that means it is useless. Acupuncture may relieve mild acute back pain but almost never works if you have had back pain of longer duration.

Before you decide to waste money on this expensive therapy, go and see a bona fide doctor and find out what is causing the back pain. Acupuncture does not work if you have prolapsed discs, arthritis, or muscle pull. Even if you decide to undergo acupuncture, remember you have to go for at least 12-20 sessions for many weeks and each session can cost anywhere from $75-$100-and that is a lot of money to spend on a treatment that may not even work. Best advice, save your hard earned money from this unproven therapy. Most healthcare practitioners who perform acupuncture are rejects from bona fide medical school.