Back Pain & Sciatica Relief
in Long Island City
Relieve pain. Restore mobility. Get back to what matters.
Back pain and sciatica can make even simple movements feel difficult — sitting at your desk, training at the gym, or keeping up with daily life. At LIC Acupuncture & Wellness in Long Island City, we provide precise acupuncture and dry needling treatments to reduce pain, restore mobility, and help you return to the things that matter.
Don’t let pain hold you back.
Conditions We Treat
Low Back Pain
Acute or chronic pain that makes it difficult to sit, stand, move, or sleep comfortably.
Sciatica and Nerve Pain
Shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels down the leg.
Disc Irritation or Herniation
Disc-related back pain that can radiate down the leg.
Muscle Spasms and Stiffness
Tightness and spasm that make it hard to move or stay comfortable.
Sports and Training Related Back Pain
Pain that holds you back from training, competing, and performing at your best.
Work Related Back Pain
Back pain from long hours at work that takes a toll and wears you down.
Pregnancy Related Back Pain
Safe, supportive care for back pain during and after pregnancy.
Common Factors in Back Pain
Back pain rarely stems from a single factor. That’s why we look at the whole picture — structure, mechanics, nerves, and lifestyle. Below are some of the most common factors we see in clinic.
Structural Factors
Structural causes of back pain involve changes in the spine, joints, or discs. Many of these can be seen on imaging, such as arthritis, disc herniation, or stenosis, though scans don’t always explain the full picture of pain.
Disc problems: Bulging, herniation, or internal disruption occur when discs are pushed beyond their tolerance. Pain often worsens with sitting, bending forward, or arching back.
Joint or ligament injury: The joints and ligaments that connect and stabilize the spine can be stressed gradually from repeated load, or suddenly from a fall, twist, or awkward lift.
Degenerative changes: Conditions like arthritis, spinal stenosis (narrowing), or spondylolisthesis (slippage) change how the spine handles load. While these changes are lasting, treatment can help slow their progression by reducing inflammation and pressure on the joints — easing tension, restoring mobility, and allowing for greater activity.
Mechanical Factors
Mechanical causes of back pain relate to how the spine, muscles, and supporting tissues function under movement and load. These problems may not always appear on imaging, but they can strongly affect daily comfort and performance.
Trigger points or knots: Knots of tight fibers restrict blood flow and irritate nerves, causing pain both locally and at a distance. For example, knots in the neck and shoulders can cause headaches, while tight hip muscles can mimic sciatica by sending pain down the leg.
Muscle imbalances: Some muscles are overused while others are underutilized, creating uneven loading. This can occur with repetitive movements, one-sided sports like tennis or golf, or training that doesn’t match the body’s balance and demands. These imbalances place added stress on muscles and joints, leading to pain and injury.
Muscle strain: Sudden overload from lifting, twisting, or abrupt movement can overstretch fibers, producing sharp localized pain, tightness, and limited motion.
Repetitive strain: Repeated movements and sustained activity place ongoing stress on muscles. Overuse keeps tissues tight and inflamed, whether from desk work, lifting on the job, or physical tasks done day after day. Over time, this stress accumulates and increases strain on muscles and joints, leading to pain and injury.
Postural strain: When the body is out of alignment, muscles have to work harder to maintain posture, leading to overwork and fatigue. This shows up in desk work, jobs that require standing or leaning, and activities like cycling or playing musical instruments. Over time, the imbalance causes tension, stiffness and pain.
Neurological Factors
Back pain isn’t always driven by muscles or joints alone. The nervous system itself can generate or amplify pain, either because a nerve is physically irritated or because pain pathways become overly sensitive.
Nerve compression: When a nerve is irritated or compressed — either at the spine or along its pathway — it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. A common example is sciatica, where pain and tingling travel down the leg.
Sensitization: Repeated or prolonged pain rewires the nervous system to stay on high alert. Nerves fire more easily, and the brain interprets normal signals as pain. It’s seen in conditions such as chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and migraines. This can continue even after the initial injury has healed, sometimes for years. Stress, poor sleep, and repeated flare-ups reinforce this state, making the nervous system more sensitive over time.
Lifestyle & Recovery Factors
Daily habits and recovery patterns play a major role in whether back pain improves or keeps returning. These influences often set the stage for irritation in muscles, joints, or nerves:
Sedentary living: Long hours of sitting or inactivity weaken stabilizing muscles, reduce circulation, and stiffen joints. The spine depends on movement to stay nourished and resilient — without it, supporting tissues lose strength and flexibility. Over time, the back weakens and becomes more easily overloaded, so even minor demands can trigger pain and injury.
Overtraining: High training volume without adequate recovery creates micro-injuries that outpace the body’s ability to adapt. This causes pain, tension, and inflammation. It can also affect joint integrity, disrupt muscle firing, and limit the range of motion needed for movements such as strides, swings, or lifts. The result is decreased strength, slower speed, reduced performance, and higher injury risk.
Poor sleep and stress: Without adequate sleep, the body has less time to repair. Muscles weaken, stability reduces, and tissues become more vulnerable. Inflammation builds while the nervous system fatigues, and the body grows more susceptible to injury. Stress compounds this by holding the body in constant tension, further reducing resilience and recovery.
Because these factors often overlap, the most effective care needs to address them together. That’s the foundation of our method.
Our Method
We use precise acupuncture techniques, including orthopedic and dry needling, to release muscle tension, reduce inflammation, and calm irritated nerves. When needed, we integrate supportive therapies such as cupping and e-stim to enhance recovery and mobility.
1. Direct Treatment
We directly target the areas of pain and irritation. This reduces inflammation, eases protective muscle guarding, and relieves tension in the back so movement becomes easier.
2. Address Underlying Imbalances
Back pain rarely exists in isolation. We treat muscle imbalances and joint dysfunction that overload the spine — restoring coordination, stability, and mobility.
3. Support Lasting Recovery
Acupuncture enhances circulation, improves oxygen and nutrient delivery, and supports tissue repair. This speeds recovery and shortens the time it takes to return to daily activities and training.
When relief matters, you need a plan that works.
The LIC Acupuncture & Wellness Difference
Whole Person APPROACH
Back pain isn’t always just mechanical. Stress, poor sleep, posture, and systemic factors can add to inflammation, tension, and slow recovery. Our treatments identify and address these contributors — which is why many patients find meaningful relief, even when other therapies haven’t worked.
Personalized TREATMENTS
No two backs — or bodies — are the same. Every session is one-on-one and tailored to your history, goals, and how your pain shows up. Treatments may include orthopedic or dry needling acupuncture with supportive methods like cupping, soft-tissue work, or e-stim.
Expert Care
Our licensed practitioners are highly trained and clinically focused on results. We’ve helped countless patients manage back pain safely and effectively so they can move with confidence again.
What to Expect
Consultation
One-on-one discussion of your symptoms, health history, and goals. We’ll confirm if acupuncture — or any of our services — is the right fit.
Your First Treatment
A targeted acupuncture session tailored to your condition. Supportive therapies such as cupping, e-stim, or soft-tissue work may be included to improve circulation, release tension, and support recovery.
Progress
Many patients notice relief within the first few sessions. Chronic or complex conditions usually improve gradually over a series of treatments.
Testimonials
Feel better. Move better. Live better.
Individual results may vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied. See full disclaimer.