Case report of Acupuncture for PN, CIPN
As I mentioned in the previous
article, our own office records indicate that most patients with PN/CIPN
reported at least 50% symptom improvement if they receive 8 or 10 treatments.
Unlike drug therapy, the benefit of acupuncture is often long-lasting.
This is illustrated by the following case history:
A patient from northern Kentucky was
referred to me for acupuncture for CIPN. She had completed Taxol-based
adjuvant chemo therapy for breast cancer one year earlier. She had
persistent pain, numbness and tingling of both feet which responded poorly to
medications. After 10 treatments, she only had some residual numbness
involving the left 4th and 5th toes, and her pain
resolved completely. She came back 6 months later with recurrence of her
symptoms but to a lesser degree. She improved significantly again after 5
treatments. One year after the last treatment, a follow-up visit showed
no recurrence of PN.
Although the case report is
regarding CIPN, I need to point out that I have also treated many patients with
peripheral neuropathy of other causes with very positive results.
The following are some safety notes
and tips in the management of PN/CIPN;
·
Footwear Avoid heels, proper insoles, grip
surface on shoes, loafer style with Velcro straps
·
Household environment use non skid bath
mats, remove loose rugs, use night lights, keep rooms well lit
·
Orthosis if necessary and avoid injury from
wearing orthosis
·
Avoid or discontinue physical training if physically unfit.
Nutritional supplements are popular
among patients. Some have been proven to be effective in the prevention
of CIPN, but they have not been adequately researched for management of
PN/CIPN. Vitamins E, β-carotene, B6/B12, antioxidants including
N-acetylcysteine, α-lipoid acid and acetyl-L-Carnitine have been tried.
In summary,
- Some supplements maybe beneficial too. An integrative
approach combining acupuncture and nutritional supplements maybe plausible.
- Attention should be paid to comfortable footwear, use of
orthosis, and having a save household environment.
- Some medications, such as Opioid Analgesics and
anti-epileptics, are helpful if they are well tolerated.
- Acupunctive treatment modality for peripheral neuopatny, including CIPN in my clinical experience over the last decade and it is supported by a few studies.
- Long lasting benefit after discontinuation of acupuncture can be achieved in some patients.
