Efficacy of arc-edge needle with oral analgesic medicine treatment for patients with thoracodorsal postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Objective To observe the efficacy of arc-edge needle (AEN) combined with oral analgesic medicine treatment for patients with thoracodorsal postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods Sixty-five patients of both sexes, with PHN, aged 50-83 years, from January 2015 to March 2018 in the Pain Clinic of Henan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, were randomly divided into two groups. The patients were treated with gabapentin, neurotropin tablet and tramadol hydrochloride sustained release tablet in oral analgesic medicine group (group OD, n=32); while the patients were treated with arc-edge needle (AEN) sweeping subcutaneously in the painful area combined with oral medicine in combined arc-edge needle group (group KOD, n=33). VAS and sleep quality were observed before and at 7, 14 and 28 days after the treatment. The efficacy was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of sleep (QS), and the incidence rate of complications and adverse reactions were recorded. Results The VAS was significantly lower and the QS score significantly higher at the time of 7, 14 and 28 days after the treatment than those before the treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and VAS and QS score were better in group KOD than those in group OD (P<0.01). After the treatment, the clinical excellent and good rate was 91% (30/33 cases) in group KOD at 28 d after the treatment, 63% (19/30 cases) in group OD. Conclusion Arc-edge needle with oral analgesic medicine is effective and better than oral analgesic medicine alone, for the treatment of thoracodorsal postherpetic neuralgia with quickly relieving patients' pain and improving their sleep quality. Key words: Neuralgia, postherpetic; Neuralgia; Arc-edge needle; Pain; Drug, therapy