Positive Health Online

Abstract

ESTORES and COLLEAGUES, 1. a University of Florida Health Integrative Medicine Program , Gaineseville , FL , USA; 2. b Center for Integrative Medicine , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA; 3. c School of Chinese Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China; 4. d University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA; 5. e Department of Neurology , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA set out to assess the effects of an auricular acupuncture protocol on self-reported pain intensity in persons with chronic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain.

Background

To obtain preliminary data on the effects of an auricular acupuncture protocol, Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), on self-reported pain intensity in persons with chronic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain.

Methodology

Chronic (> one year post injury) ASIA impairment scale A through D individuals with SCI with injury level from C3 through T12 and below level neuropathic pain with at least five on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were recruited. Twenty-four subjects were randomized to either an eight-week once weekly ten-needle BFA protocol (n = 13) or to a waiting list followed by the BFA protocol (n = 11). Design: Pilot randomized delayed entry single center crossover clinical trial at an outpatient rehabilitation and integrative medicine hospital center. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was change in the pain severity NRS. Secondary outcome was the Global Impression of Change.

Results

Demographically there were no significant differences between groups. Mean pain scores at baseline were higher in acupuncture than control subjects (7.75 ± 1.54 vs. 6.25 ± 1.04, P = 0.027). Although both groups reported significant reduction in pain during the trial period, the BFA group reported more pain reduction than the delayed entry group (average change in NRS at eight weeks -2.92 ± 2.11 vs. -1.13 ± 2.14, P = 0.065). There was a significant difference in groups when a group-by-time interaction in a mixed-effect repeated measures model (P = 0.014).

Conclusion

This pilot study has provided proof of concept that BFA has clinically meaningful effect on the modulation of SCI neuropathic pain.

References

Estores I1, Chen K2, Jackson B2, Lao L3, Gorman PH4,5. Auricular acupuncture for spinal cord injury related neuropathic pain: a pilot controlled clinical trial. J Spinal Cord Med.;40(4):432-438. Jul 2017 doi: 10.1080/10790268.2016.1141489. Epub Feb 15 2016.