Clinical Observation of Nerve-near Needling for Occipital Neuralgia

Li, W.

J Acupunct Tuina Sci

2009

7

91-93

RCT

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of nerve-near needling for occipital neuralgia. Methods: Eighty-two subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: treatment group in which 46 cases was treated by nerve-near needling [points Tianzhu (BL 10) and Tianyou (TE 16) were selected], and control group in which 36 cases were treated by conventional acupuncture [points Tianzhu(BL 10), Fengchi(GB 20), Baihui(GV 20), Shimian 11 (Extra), Wangu (GB 12) and Hegu(LI 4) were selected]. One course of treatment consisted of 3-5 times, and three courses of treatment were given at most before calculating efficacy. Results: The short-term total effective rate was 93.5% in the treatment group and 69.4% in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01); the long-term total effective rate was 64.1% in the treatment group and 43.3% in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Nerve-near needling is better than conventional acupuncture in treating occipital neuralgia. [ Key Words ] Neck Pain; Neuralgia; Acupuncture Therapy; Needling Method [CLC Number] 8246.6 [ Document Code] A Occipital neuralgia is a common nerve pain caused by cervical spondylopathy, cold invasion, and infection, etc. The pain brings the sufferer about nervousness, diminished appetite, anxiety, mental distress, disturbance of life and sleep. Between January 2000 and November 2005, I treated occipital neuralgia by nerve-near needling and enrolled regular acupuncture as controlled trial. It is now reported as fol lows. 1 Clinical Data 1.1 Diagnostic criteria The diagnostic criteria were stipulated according to Neurologyill, Modern Internal Medicinet21 and Author: LI Wei-dong (1970- ), male, attending doctor Practical OrthopedicsI31. X-ray examination, head CT scan or MRI examination were performed to rule out fracture, dislocation, space-occupying lesion or central nervous infection, etc. The clinical manifestation is the spontaneous pain in the occiput, which may be triggered or worsened by head motion, coughing and sneezing; the pain may be persistent with paroxysmal aggravation or intermittent, characteristic of dull pain or cutting pain and radiating upwards. The patients, who had such primary diseases as heart diseases, lung diseases, liver and kidney diseases and hematopoietic diseases, or psychosis and hysteria and discontinued the given procedure, were not included in this observation.

Date of Input: 3/19/2015; Availability: --In File--; Priority: Normal; Department of Rehabilitation, Lechang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong 512200, P. R. China

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