Case Study: Electro-acupuncture for neuropathy
Electroacupuncture is the application of electrical current to acupoints on a patient to stimulate the inserted needles more rapidly than can be accomplished by hand. Its origins are a bit murky. Some sources assert that electroacupuncture was first used by physicians in France and Italy as far back as the early 1800s while others attribute its discovery to Japanese scientists in the 1940s who were interested in making bone fractures heal more quickly. Others claim that electroacupuncture wasn't really developed until 1958 when acupuncturists in China began experimenting with it as a form of pain relief. Regardless of its murky origins, it has become an incredibly useful tool for moving qi and blood as well as reducing pain. Electroacupuncture is especially useful for the following conditions: acute pain, neuralgia, limb/joint pain, soft-tissue injuries, and post-surgical pain. This month's blog presents to you a case study in which I used electroacupuncture to treat neuropathy.
Case Study
The patient is an 83-year-old AMAB (pronouns: He/Him) who came to the clinic first time on August 20th, 2020 for lower back pain. He has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, some urinary difficulty due to enlarged prostate, and constipation.
When he first came to the clinic, he was walking very slowly with the support of the cane, and his pain was 9/10. His pulse was choppy, deep in the organ level, especially chi (kidney) positions, and slightly rapid.
The acupuncture points that were used: B kd7, B kd 10, B kd27, B lu5, ren 12, ren 10
When the patient came to the clinic the following week, his pain was 2/10 and he did not need to use his cane.
The patient was given acupuncture for the first thirteen visits weekly first, then biweekly. His back pain was completely eliminated after the third visit. A year later, he came back to the clinic for a pulled muscle in his upper back which was resolved after a couple of treatments.
On February 15th 2022, he came back for the neuropathy on his feet. He reported that lower back pain did not return but he had been feeling numbness on the feet and toes and his Dr. told him that the cause of it might be related to his age and recommended him to try acupuncture.
15/02/2022
Lower back pain 0/10,
the patient can’t feel the temperature change on the feet when he steps on the clinic floor, toes are numb. Right foot is swollen compared to the left.
Pulse: deep, full, sl rapid
Tongue: purple, swollen
Acupuncture Points:
L ling gu, da bai
electro acupuncture on ba feng points bilateral. Patient could not feel the electric stimulation on the right foot despite the increased frequency ( damp accumulation on the right foot was not conducting electricity within the tissue well).
03/02/202
Patient reported no change in neuropathy and also going up and down the stairs experiencing some left-side lateral knee pain.
pulse is choppy, slippery guan
Acupuncture Points:
Set 1: b ST36, R sp9, e stim R ba feng
Set 2: L st36, L e stim gb34 to ba feng, he was able to feel the electrical stimulation on both feet this time.
After the treatment patient reported feeling the clinic floor and temperature changes between the floor and the carpet.
03/10/2022
left lateral knee pain is reduced
neuropathy on the feet is less, he can feel the floor, and temperature changes.
Pulse: slippery and full.
Acupuncture Points::
du20, B LI 11
electro acupuncture L st36 to gb34, st 41 to lv2, st44
R e stim ba feng
03/16/2022
left lateral knee pain and neuropathy of the feet are continually getting better.
Pulse: choppy
Acupuncture Points::
Set 1: B sj4, du20
Set 2: estim L st36 to gb34, E stim ba feng
R estim st36 to st 41 and ba feng
If you have any questions about the case study or the treatment of neuropathy with electro acupuncture, please contact us at info@felekacupuncture.com.
written by Ozben Felek, edited by Sapphyre Miria
