A 54-year-old male presented with a two-year history of severe sciatica, along with several years of chronic lower back stiffness and soreness. His symptoms began after a home project replacing deck boards, when mild discomfort quickly escalated into radiating pain through the glute and down the leg. Within weeks, the pain became intense and debilitating.
An MRI revealed mild disc bulging, but nothing that fully explained the severity of his symptoms. Over the next nine months, he pursued physical therapy and cortisone injections without relief—in fact, his condition worsened.
The pain began to affect every aspect of his life:
By the time he sought care, he was frustrated, exhausted, and unsure what options remained.
Care focused on addressing both the chronic lower back dysfunction and the active sciatic pain pattern. Using acupuncture to target affected meridians, combined with simple, corrective exercises prescribed for home, we worked to restore balance, mobility, and proper muscle function.
Treatment was consistent over six months, followed by a gradual transition to less frequent visits while maintaining progress through at-home exercises.
Most importantly, he was able to fully participate in his daughter’s wedding—walking her down the aisle pain-free, something he once feared wouldn’t be possible.
Elite athlete no time to stop, plantar fasciitis
EastWest Acupuncture is proud to work with a unique group of businesses throughout Minnesota offering our wide range of eastern and western styles of medicine. To learn more about our partnership program email admin@tcmeastwest.com
