Acupuncture for Postoperative Neuropathic Pain: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71341/bmwj.v1i1.6Keywords:
neuropathic pain, postsurgical neuropathic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, acupunctureAbstract
Introduction: Postoperative neuropathy can result from nerve transection, bruising, stretching, or inflammation. Chronic Post-Surgical Neuropathic Pain (CPSNP) refers to pain persisting for at least three months after surgery, distinct from preoperative pain and localized to the surgical site or referral area. Acupuncture, a therapeutic technique for acute and chronic pain, has shown promise in managing CPSNP. In this case report, we explore the use of acupuncture to alleviate chronic pain following hand surgery. CPSNP poses significant challenges for patients recovering from surgical procedures. Acupuncture, with its potential to modulate nerve activity and activate pain control systems in the brain, offers an alternative approach to pain management.
Case Report: Patient Profile: A 37-year-old woman presented to the medical acupuncture polyclinic with complaints related to her left hand. Specifically, she experienced numbness, heat, and pain in the tips of fingers 2, 3, 4, and 5. Occasionally, the discomfort extended to her elbow. Medical History: The patient had undergone Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) surgery on her left hand approximately one year ago. The diagnosis of CTS was established in 2021, leading to open surgery on the wrist. Current Pain Assessment: The patient reported a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score of 5. Physical Examination: Examination revealed pain and limited range of motion (ROM) in her hand. Acupuncture Treatment: Manual acupuncture therapy was administered, targeting specific body acupuncture points and utilizing ear acupuncture.
Outcome: After six therapy sessions, the patient experienced a reduction in pain intensity and an improvement in overall quality of life.
Conclusion: Acupuncture shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for managing chronic post-surgical neuropathic pain. Further research is warranted to explore its efficacy and long-term effects in similar cases.
References
Barke, A., Schiller, J., Rief, W., Treede, R.-D., Falter, S., Schäfer, P., Korwisi, B., Nugraha, B., Karst, M., & Gutenbrunner, C. (2018). The IASP classification of chronic pain for ICD-11. Pain, 160(1), 88–94.
Binder, A., & Baron, R. (2016). The pharmacological therapy of chronic neuropathic pain. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 113(37), 616–625. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2016.0616
Bonezzi, C., Fornasari, D., Cricelli, C., Magni, A., & Ventriglia, G. (2020). Not All Pain is Created Equal: Basic Definitions and Diagnostic Work-Up. Pain and Therapy, 9(s1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-020-00217-w
Borsook, D., Kussman, B. D., George, E., Becerra, L. R., & Burke, D. W. (2014). Surgically induced neuropathic pain: Understanding the perioperative process. Annals of Surgery, 257(3), 403–412. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e3182701a7b
Dimitrova, A., Murchison, C., & Oken, B. (2017). Acupuncture for the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(3), 164–179. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0155
Finnerup, N. B., Kuner, R., & Jensen, T. S. (2021). Neuropathic pain: Frommechanisms to treatment. Physiological Reviews, 101(1), 259–301. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00045.2019
He, K., Hu, R., Huang, Y., Qiu, B., Chen, Q., & Ma, R. (2022). Effects of Acupuncture on Neuropathic Pain Induced by Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6297484
Huntley, D. E., & Shannon, S. A. (2020). Carpal tunnel syndrome: a review of the literature. Cureus, 62(7), 316–320. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7333
Joshi, A., Patel, K., Mohamed, A., Oak, S., Zhang, M. H., Hsiung, H., Zhang, A., & Patel, U. K. (2022). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Comprehensive Guidelines for Clinical Evaluation and Treatment. Cureus, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27053
Ju, Z. Y., Wang, K., Cui, H. S., Yao, Y., Liu, S. M., Zhou, J., Chen, T. Y., & Xia, J. (2017). Acupuncture for neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012057.pub2
Justin O. Sevy, M. V. (2022). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. StatPearls [Internet].
King, H. C., Hickey, A. H., & Connelly, C. (2013). Auricular acupuncture: A brief introduction for military providers. Military Medicine, 178(8), 867–874. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00075
Ma, X., Chen, W., Yang, N. N., Wang, L., Hao, X. W., Tan, C. X., Li, H. P., & Liu, C. Z. (2022). Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16(September), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.940343
Moisset, X., Bouhassira, D., Avez Couturier, J., Alchaar, H., Conradi, S., Delmotte, M. H., Lanteri-Minet, M., Lefaucheur, J. P., Mick, G., Piano, V., Pickering, G., Piquet, E., Regis, C., Salvat, E., & Attal, N. (2020). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain: Systematic review and French recommendations. Revue Neurologique, 176(5), 325–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2020.01.361
Pace, V., Marzano, F., & Placella, G. (2023). Update on surgical procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome: What is the current evidence and practice? What are the future research directions? World Journal of Orthopedics, 14(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v14.i1.6
Prudhomme, M., Legras, A., Delorme, C., Lansaman, T., Lanteri-Minet, M., Medioni, J., Navez, M., Perrot, S., Pickering, G., Serrie, A., & Viel, E. (2020). Management of neuropathic pain induced by surgery: Review of the literature by a group of experts specialized in pain management, anesthesia and surgery. Journal of Visceral Surgery, 157(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2019.09.004
Robinson, N. G. (2016). Interactive medical acupuncture anatomy. In Interactive Medical Acupuncture Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429154652
Rubens, C. (2021). Western medical acupuncture. In A Prescription for Healthy Living: A Guide to Lifestyle Medicine (pp. 235–239). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821573-9.00021-7
Shinu, P., Morsy, M. A., Nair, A. B., Al Mouslem, A. K., Venugopala, K. N., Goyal, M., Bansal, M., Jacob, S., & Deb, P. K. (2022). Novel Therapies for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: Potential and Pitfalls. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113002
Thapa, P., & Euasobhon, P. (2018). Chronic postsurgical pain: Current evidence for prevention and management. Korean Journal of Pain, 31(3), 155–173. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2018.31.3.155
White, A. (2009). Western medical acupuncture: A definition. Acupuncture in Medicine, 27(1), 33–35. https://doi.org/10.1136/aim.2008.000372
WHO. (2009). WHO Stadndard Acupuncture Point Location in the Western Pasific Region. 258.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Deity Nugraha, Elies Fitriani, Adiningsih Srilestari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
License
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercial purposes.
- Adaptation — mixing, changing, and developing materials for any purpose, even commercial ones.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
