Back Pain Treatment in Greenville, SC
Suffering from back pain in Greenville, SC? Dr. William Hendry combines acupuncture, dry needling, and functional medicine to address the root cause. Call (864) 365-6156.
What Is Back Pain?
Back pain is one of the most prevalent health complaints worldwide, affecting up to 80% of adults at some point in their lives. It ranges from a dull, persistent ache to sharp, debilitating pain and can originate in the muscles, ligaments, discs, or nerves of the spine. At Integrative Health Partners, we view back pain not as an isolated symptom but as a signal that the body's structural and physiological balance has been disrupted.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
Conventional medicine often treats back pain as a structural problem — a herniated disc, strained muscle, or degenerative joint disease — and responds with anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or surgery. Functional medicine takes a broader view, recognizing that systemic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle factors all contribute to how pain is experienced and maintained.
Chronically elevated cortisol from stress compromises tissue repair and sensitizes pain pathways. Deficiencies in magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids increase inflammatory signaling in the muscles and joints. Gut dysbiosis generates inflammatory cytokines that amplify pain throughout the body. Fascia, the connective tissue web surrounding every muscle and organ, can develop adhesions and restrictions that perpetuate pain long after the original injury heals.
Dr. Hendry evaluates all of these contributing factors to understand why your back pain persists and what is preventing natural healing — not just where it hurts.
How We Treat Back Pain at IHP
At Integrative Health Partners, back pain treatment is personalized and multi-modal. Acupuncture reduces central and peripheral sensitization by modulating pain-signaling neurotransmitters including endorphins, serotonin, and adenosine. Research published in peer-reviewed journals, including the British Medical Journal and JAMA Internal Medicine, consistently shows acupuncture outperforms sham treatment for chronic back pain.
Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points — tight, hypersensitive bands within the muscle that are a primary source of referred pain in the back. By deactivating these points, normal muscle tone is restored and pain often resolves rapidly. Cupping therapy promotes circulation in stagnant tissue, reduces fascial restrictions, and accelerates recovery.
For patients with chronic back pain, Dr. Hendry incorporates functional medicine testing to identify systemic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal contributors, then builds a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both structural and systemic factors.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
Dr. Hendry's background in both Oriental medicine and functional medicine — including his co-authored research on needling techniques as opioid alternatives at Prisma Health's Emergency Department — gives him a uniquely evidence-based perspective on back pain. He held hospital privileges at Prisma Health for nine years and has applied advanced needling protocols developed in an acute-care setting to help outpatient patients recover faster and with less reliance on pain medications. Every back pain patient receives a thorough assessment before any needles are placed.