Acupuncture For Hip Pain: Treating Hip Pain Holistically
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5. Can you reverse hip pain?
Reversing hip pain depends on the underlying cause of your hip pain:
For conditions like osteoarthritis or hip injuries, acupuncture and other treatments may not fully reverse your hip damage but can help manage your pain, inflammation, and improve function.
For muscular or soft tissue issues, acupuncture, physical therapy, and exercises may help restore your mobility and reduce pain, potentially leading to a fuller recovery.
In cases of structural damage (e.g., fractures or severe arthritis), acupuncture may be able to alleviate your symptoms but will not reverse any structural damage. In such cases, surgery may be necessary.
Acupuncture can play a supportive role in managing chronic pain and improving quality of life for many hip-pain sufferers, but for some conditions, fully reversing hip damage and eliminating hip pain entirely may not be possible without additional treatment and interventions.
1. Can Acupuncture Help with Hip Pain?
Acupuncture is commonly used to help alleviate chronic joint pain, including your greater trochanter.
It stimulates acupuncture points, or specific points on your body to improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, relieve trigger points, and promote holistic healing. While acupuncture is effective in managing pain and improving your range of motion for daily activities, it likely won’t completely heal the underlying causes of your hip flexor pain, especially if your pain is caused by structural issues like arthritis or injury.
Nevertheless, acupuncture can bring about significant improvements and play a valuable part of a comprehensive treatment plan that can also include physical therapy, exercise, and possibly other medical interventions.
2. Acupuncture Points for Hip Joint Pain
Acupuncture typically targets several points on the body’s energy pathways (meridians). Common acupuncture points for hip pain include:
GB 30 (Huan Tiao): Located on the hip joint, this point is often used for hip pain and sciatica.
B 54 (Zhi Bian): Found near the gluteal muscles, it can help with hip and lower back pain.
L I4 (He Gu): Located on the hand, this point is used for general pain relief and may help alleviate hip pain.
SP 6 (San Yin Jiao): Found above the ankle, this point can help with various types of lower body pain
Acupuncturists also focus on points related to the liver, kidney, or bladder meridians, depending on the individual’s condition.
3. How Many Sessions of Acupuncture Do You Need?
The number of sessions you need will vary depending on the severity of your pain and your response to the acupuncture treatment.
For acute pain, you might experience relief after a few sessions, typically around 3–5 treatments.
For chronic pain, it may take 6–10 sessions or more, often with follow-up treatments every week or two.
Our acupuncturists will tailor the treatment plan to your specific needs and progress. Some of our patients benefit from additional maintenance sessions after the first acupuncture session.
4. How Long Will Acupuncture Relief Take?
Some people experience pain relief immediately after an acupuncture session, while others may notice gradual improvements over several sessions.
Typically, you might start to feel relief within the first 1-2 sessions, but for long-term relief, 2–4 weeks of consistent treatment might be necessary.
The duration of relief will vary from person to person. We recommend pairing acupuncture with other treatments, such as physical therapy, for optimal results.