Is acupuncture good for a bulged disc or spinal stenosis?

MODEST BENEFIT?: The more we learn, acupuncture seems useful for pain control, if done with expertise, but would not modify the anatomy of the pain generator. A bulged disc is unlikely to be the cause of spinal pain, and spinal stenosis may also be mostly asymptomatic initially. Best approach is to acquire a clear diagnosis and treat both cause and symptoms.

Maybe: Accupuncture can be useful for some people who have pain from spinal stenosis or a bulging disc. It appears to be effective in decreasing pain in around 50% of patients. Accupuncture does not resolve the underlying problem, and can only help with pain, so if one still has pain and it is severe, other treatments may be needed.

Useful addition: Acupuncture works by helping to reset the nervous system, decreasing pain, and improving function. After getting a diagnosis from your doctor, doing physical therapy to change the biomechanics that are contributing to the symptoms, it is a useful addition.

Sx improvement.: It will not fix the underlying problem but can help remarkably with pain, inflammation & range of motion. I treat a number of patients with this of problem. I always work in coordination with their neurologists or neurosurgeons.