engleski

Impact of acupuncture treatment on painful radiculopathies: experience from UHC Osijek

Introduction Studies have shown that acupuncture has similar or better impact on treatment of pain in cervicobrachial syndrome and sciatica in comparison with drug therapy. Aim To explore the effect of acupuncture therapy on reduction of pain in radiculopathies in UHC Osijek. Methods In our study we observed 63 patients with neuralgic radicular pain. There were 40 women and 6 man, who were treated with acupuncture through Department of Anestesiology in UHC Osijek. We examined heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pain intensity before and after conducted acupuncture treatment. Statistical analysis was made using SPSS statistical programme. Results In study there were 20 (43, 5%) patients with sciatica, 9 (19, 6%) with cervicobrachial syndrome, and 17 (36, 9%) with both diseases. Average age was 60, 93 years (±12, 05). After acupuncture treatment there was statistically significant decrease in pain intensity (from 5, 7 to 5, 2), heart rate (from 77, 76 to 73, 96/min), systolic (from 133, 44 to 125, 92 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (from 82, 5 to 79, 9 mmHg). Regarding type of radiculopathy, patients with sciatica had lower blood pressure and pain intensity before and after treatment, in comparison with patients with cervicobrachial syndrome and combined radiculopathy. Conclusion Acupuncture is highy efficient method in treatment of radicular pain. It has a beneficial effect on reduction of pain intensity, blood pressure and heart rate. This method is significant as an alternative, but also as a concomitant therapy of painful radiculopathies.

radiculopathy ; pain ; therapy ; acupuncture

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