Back Pain Symptoms and Functional Improvement With Fu’s Needle Technique
Overview
A 45-year-old man had lived with persistent lower back discomfort for approximately 30 years after a bicycle accident during adolescence. Although medical imaging (including CT and MRI) did not reveal structural abnormalities, the discomfort remained a daily challenge. His baseline pain hovered around 3–4/10 and escalated to 6–7/10 after exercise, sometimes forcing him to rest in bed. Previous attempts at symptom management provided limited benefit, leading him to explore additional conservative care options.
Key challenges
- Long-standing lower back discomfort following remote trauma.
- Normal imaging results despite persistent symptoms.
- Pain significantly aggravated by physical activity.
- Restricted participation in sports and daily movement.
- Limited improvement with prior therapies.
Treatment
Assessment identified local sensitivity along the lower back region, consistent with a pattern traditionally described in TCM as stagnation affecting the surrounding tissues. In addition, tenderness along the cutaneous nerve pathway suggested possible irritation from older scar tissue related to the adolescent injury.
A course of treatment using Fu’s Subcutaneous Needle Technique (FSN) was implemented. FSN, developed by Dr. Zhonghua Fu in the 1990s, is a modern acupuncture-derived method that places a specially designed needle into the subcutaneous layer to influence the surrounding soft tissue.
The technique was used with the goals of:
- Reducing local sensitivity and tension in the affected area.
- Addressing soft-tissue restrictions related to previous trauma.
- Supporting smoother movement and comfort during activity.
Treatment sessions also incorporated gentle movement techniques commonly paired with FSN to enhance mobility and encourage functional improvements.
Outcomes
- Marked reduction in discomfort, including days without pain.
- Improved ease of movement during daily tasks.
- Ability to return to biking and other physical activities without the previous post-exercise flare-ups.
- Sustained comfort, with no recurrence of the original back pain reported over a two-year follow-up period.
Conclusion
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