Efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal fumigation comprehensive therapy in relieving neck, shoulder, lumbar, and leg pain in patients

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal fumigation in relieving neck, shoulder, lumbar, and leg pain in patients. 
 Methods: This study recruited 94 patients with neck, shoulder, lumbar, and leg pain admitted to Ma’anshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2019 and December 2020. The patients were randomized into either study group or comprehensive group. Study group was given routine therapy, including administration of celecoxib capsules and imrecoxib tablets, fumigation, and acupuncture, while the comprehensive group received comprehensive therapy, including celecoxib capsules and imrecoxib tablets + acupuncture + fumigation + rehabilitation exercise + needle knife therapy. The treatment outcome, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Barthel index, Fugl-Meyer score, and MOS item short-form health survey (SF-36) scores were recorded. 
 Results: Comprehensive therapy resulted in significantly better treatment outcomes than routine therapy (p < 0.05). The swelling, pain, and functional limitation TCM evidence score in the comprehensive group were lower than those in the study group (p < 0.05). Comprehensive therapy was associated with a more significant reduction in the VAS scores of patients and more enrichment in JOA scores and Barthel index than routine therapy (p < 0.05). Patients treated with comprehensive therapy showed higher FuglMeyer (upper limb and lower limb) and SF-36 scores than those with routine therapy (p < 0.05). 
 Conclusion: Acupuncture and Chinese herbal fumigation comprehensive therapy effectively relieve the pain of patients and promote recovery of lumbar spine function as well as motor ability, thereby enhancing the patient’s quality of life.