Effect of Combined Bee Venom Acupuncture and NSAID Treatment for Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized, Assessor-Blinded, Pilot Clinical Trial.

Boram Lee,Byung-Kwan Seo,Sanghun Lee,Dae-Jean Jo,O-Jin Kwon,Jun-Hwan Lee

doi:10.3390/toxins13070436

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a combined treatment of bee venom acupuncture (BVA) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP). Patients with NCNP for ≥3 months were randomly allocated to a BVA, NSAIDs, or combined group (1:1:1), receiving 6 sessions of BVA, loxoprofen (180 mg daily), or a combination, respectively, for 3 weeks. Recruitment, adherence, and completion rates were calculated to assess feasibility. Bothersomeness, pain, disability, quality of life, depressive status, treatment credibility, and adverse events were assessed. In total, 60 participants were enrolled, and 54 completed the trial. Recruitment, adherence, and completion rates were 100%, 95%, and 90%, respectively. Bothersomeness, pain, disability, and depressive symptoms significantly improved in all groups after treatment (p < 0.05). The combined group showed continuous improvement during the follow-up period (p < 0.05). Quality of life was significantly improved (p < 0.05), and treatment credibility was maintained in the BVA and combined groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Combined treatment of BVA and NSAIDs are feasible for the treatment of NCNP, showing high persistence of the effect, credibility, and safety. Additional trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm this effect.

Highlights

Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) refers to persistent pain or severe discomfort in the neck for at least 3 months, without pathological and neurological findings and traumatic causes [1,2]
A total of 62 participants were screened for eligibility, of which 60 were randomly assigned to the bee venom acupuncture (BVA) (n = 20), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (n = 20), and combined treatment (n = 20) groups
Two participants (1 in the BVA group and 1 in the combined group) withdrew their consent to participate in the trial because of personal reasons not related to the BVA and four participants (3 in the NSAIDs group and 1 in the combined group) violated the study protocol by taking prohibited medications, including steroid injection and acupuncture (Figure 1) (File S1)

Summary

Introduction

Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) refers to persistent pain or severe discomfort in the neck for at least 3 months, without pathological and neurological findings and traumatic causes [1,2]. The lifetime prevalence of neck pain worldwide is estimated as 14–71% [3]. It is higher in women, office and computer workers, high-income countries, and urban areas [4]. Conventional treatments for NCNP include pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, and surgical interventions. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for the treatment of NCNP due to anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects [6]. A lack of long-term efficacy and possible risk of gastrointestinal, kidney, and cardiovascular side effects [7] has led to the use of complementary and integrative therapies, including acupuncture and massage therapy [8,9]

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