Tác dụng giảm đau của điện châm trên bệnh nhân zona thần kinh giai đoạn bán cấp

Subacute herpetic neuralgia (SHN), a common and debilitating complication following herpes zoster infection, presents a significant challenge in pain management. While conventional multi-modal therapies involving antiviral agents and neuropathic pain medications like Gabapentin are effective, they often come with undesirable side effects, highlighting the need for improved or complementary treatment options. Traditional medicine approaches, particularly electroacupuncture, have shown promise in alleviating pain with fewer adverse reactions. This study investigates the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture as an adjunctive therapy within the standard treatment regimen for patients suffering from subacute herpetic neuralgia, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and mitigate the burden of chronic pain.

Medical professionals, pain management specialists, neurologists, traditional medicine practitioners, and researchers interested in integrative pain therapies for neuropathic conditions.

This prospective, controlled, interventional clinical trial aimed to scientifically evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for subacute herpetic neuralgia. Sixty patients diagnosed with subacute herpetic neuralgia were randomly assigned to two groups. The research group (n=30) received Gabapentin combined with daily electroacupuncture sessions, while the control group (n=30) received only Gabapentin at the same dosage and duration over 14 days. Outcomes were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS score) for pain and Area Under the Curve (AUC) for total pain burden. Results showed that both groups experienced pain reduction, but the research group demonstrated a statistically significant and superior analgesic effect. The mean VAS pain score in the electroacupuncture group decreased by 3.87 points, representing a 65.31% reduction from baseline, significantly outperforming the control group's 1.83-point (34.84%) reduction (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AUC analysis revealed a substantially lower total pain burden in the research group (AUC = 51.22) compared to the control group (AUC = 60.20), indicating a more consistent and sustained pain relief. The findings conclude that integrating electroacupuncture into the standard Gabapentin treatment regimen significantly enhances analgesic efficacy and shortens the treatment course for patients with subacute herpetic neuralgia. This safe intervention, with no reported adverse effects, holds significant potential for widespread application in clinical practice, particularly for improving the quality of life for patients affected by this persistent and often debilitating condition, aligning with principles of traditional medicine in modern healthcare.