A 73-year-old male came in with pain on the left side of the hip and across the lumbar spine. There was a history of significant low back pain. He smoked cigarettes and was prescribed multiple medications. The discomfort worsened after building a deck over the weekend, and rated the pain as a 7/10. He had to stop physical exercise like walking, and took Tylenol for temporary relief. At the time of his first visit, he could barely lift his left leg to his chest while sitting due to the pain and stiffness.

The patient began a treatment plan of acupuncture twice a week for three weeks. Phototherapy patches were incorporated into his treatment plan for continued pain relief between sessions. After two visits, he reported being able to raise his left knee comfortably, and his back pain had noticeably improved. By the end of the second week, he stated that the pain was completely gone. He has been recommended to continue with regular follow up visits to maintain his progress.