The Technique of Needling Three Ankle Points for Analgesia of the Radiculalgia due to Prolapse of Intervertebral Disc

This project is based on the theories of the cutaneous regions of meridian-collateral system and is in combination of the innervation regions. The principle of “taking the affected meridians and stressing the affected regions to dredging the Du meridian and to disperse the stagnation” is followed and the needling method of “needling the skin along the running courses of the affected meridians” is utilized. In terms of the clinical effect and with repeated practice, a group of optimal acupoints has been selected for treating the radiculalgia resulting from the prolapse of intervertebral disc so the traditional acupuncture therapy is organically combined with the modern analgesia mechanism.

Features of the Technique:

This therapy is of convenient manipulation and minimized pain and it has also the marked instant analgesic effect so could be used instead of the analgesics in clinic.

Treatment method:

1. Acupuncture needles of Sanyuan brand 0.35mm of diameter and 3 cun in length were selected. (manufactured by Shaanxi Sanyuan Modern Acupuncture Apparatus Company Ltd.)

2. The patient was lying in recumbent position.

3. Points selection: the location of the three ankle points: the radicular pain 1 (RP1), radicular pain 2 (RP2), radicular pain 3 (RP3) are located 4 cun above the ankle on the running courses of the three Foot-Yang meridians (the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang), respectively one for each. The RP1 is selected for treating the prolapse of intervertebral disc between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, RP2 is for treating that between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, and RP3 is for treating that between the fifth lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae. If it is a complicated case of the mixed prolapse points should be selected comprehensively according to the individual condition.

4. The doctor, fixing the skin above the needling site with the left hand (stretch the skin with thumb and index finger), holds a needle with the right hand and thrust it quickly into the skin in an angle of 15 degree between the skin and then the needle is further inserted subcutaneously with the needle body along the skin surface, the inserted depth is 2.5 cun. The needle is inserted upwards. The needle is swiftly rotated quickly for 3 minutes, 200-300 times per minute, in 360-720 degree extent. No lifting-thrusting technique is done. The needle is manipulated in every 10 minutes and is retained for 30 minutes. The treatment is given once for every second day.

Clinical Conclusion:

The outcome of the clinical research demonstrated that the medians of the effective time of the 3 therapies, i.e. three ankle points needling, conventional body acupuncture, and medication, were respectively 6 minutes, 27 minutes, and18 minutes; the consistent analgesia time of the 3 groups were respectively 24 hours (three ankle points needling), 8.9 hours (conventional body acupuncture), and 6.36 hours (medication), and the differences were extremely significant by F test (P<0.0001), while the two-two comparison showed that there was significant difference between the 3 ankle points group and the other 2 groups, but no difference between the conventional body acupuncture group and medication groups. There were also extremely significant differences in 3 groups when comparing the scores of changing trend at various time-points after the treatment and the comparison of scores of three groups at various time-points before and after treatment (P<0.001). The comparison of the post-treatment analgesia score of changing trend in three groups at various time-points as well as the comparison of all the groups before and after the treatment showed extremely significant difference (P<0.0001). Both clinical observation and statistical result proved that the three ankle points needling therapy is of the quick effective time and protracted analgesic time for relieving the radiculalgia due to the prolapse of intervertebral disc and the dynamic analgesia scores at various time-points is of marked effect in comparison with that of before treatment. To compare with the conventional body acupuncture and medication groups, it was significantly better than that of the two.

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