IDIOPATHIC TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA TREATED BY ACUPUNCTURE

Xu Benren, Ge Shuhan

(Department of Acupuncture and Moxibuslion, Shenyang Air Force Hospital of People's Liberation Army)

Since 1974 to 1982, we have treated 1,000 cases of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia with acupuncture (those treated for less than one course of needling excluded). 99.2% of the patients were improved and 54% relieved from pain completely.

Method of treatment

(1) Points: Yuyao, Sibai, Xiaguan, JiachenJiang.

(2) Method of needling:

Neuralgia of 1st branch. A needle 2.5-4.0 cm in length was inserted into point Yuyao obliquely downwards about 0.8-1.2 cm in depth. When a lighteninglike feeling of needling was transmitted to the forehead, the needle was manipulated up and down mildly for 20-50 times without twisting.

Neuralgia of 2nd branch. A needle 2.5-4.0 cm in length was inserted into Sibai-point upwards at an angle of 45 about 1.3 cm in depth. When a lightening-like feeling was transmitted to the upper lip, the needle was manipulated up and down for 20-50 times.

Neuralgia of 2nd and 3rd branches or 3rd branch alone: A needle 5.0 cm in length was inserted into xiaguan-point about 4.0 cm in depth. When a Hightening-like feeling was transmitted to the tongue or the chin, the needle was manipulated up and down for 20-50 times.

Therapeutic results

Criteria of the immediate acupuncture effects. Relic fof pain: Pain was relieved completely and not recurred within three months.

Markedly improved: The severity of pain and the number of attacks was markedly diminished.

Improved: The severity of pain and the frequency of attacks was reduced.

Ineffective: No change was seen after acupuncture.

Results

Complete relief of pain in 540 cases (54%), markedly improved in 292 cases (29.2%), improved in 160 cases (16%) and ineffective in 8 cases (0.8%).

Follow-up observations.

540 cases completely relieved from pain were followed up for 5 years after treatment. 217 cases had recurrent attacks with a rate of recurrence 40.2%. 52 cases recurred in half a year, 103 cases in six months to one year, 52 cases in the second year, 8 cases in the 3rd year and 1 case in the fourth and fifth year each. No significant side-effect was observed in our series of patients.

Discussion:

The therapeutic results of this method by needling were much better than the results of the traditional acupuncture therapy which we used before 1973. Statistical treatment showed marked difference between the two groups. X=21.38, P<0.001

The statistical figures of the curative rate in severe cases were higher than that in mild cases, while the shorter the duration of illness, the higher the curative rate. The therapeutic effect was not correlated with the age, sex, location of the pain or the branch of the nerve affected.