Title : The development and application of acupoint injection therapy: a new perspective on precision treatment of chronic pain
Abstract:
Objective: This study aims to explore and evaluate the efficacy and future prospects of acupoint injection therapy in the treatment of chronic pain. Acupoint injection therapy is an innovative method that combines the principles of traditional acupuncture with modern pharmacotherapy. By injecting medication into specific acupoints, the therapy seeks to achieve rapid and long-lasting analgesic effects. This research is committed to verifying the effectiveness of acupoint injection therapy in the precise treatment of chronic pain and its potential clinical application value.
Methods and Materials: The study adopted a double-blind, randomized control design, including 300 patients with chronic pain. The research was divided into three groups: an acupoint injection treatment group, a conventional pharmacotherapy group, and a placebo control group, with 100 individuals in each. The acupoint injection group received medication injections at selected acupoints, while the conventional pharmacotherapy group was treated with oral medication. All patients were regularly assessed for pain intensity, functional status, and quality of life through questionnaires during the six-month treatment period. Data collected included the duration of pain relief, the percentage reduction in pain intensity, the incidence rate of side effects, and other indicators.
Results:
Pain Intensity Scores (using a visual analog scale from 0-10): The average pain score in the acupoint injection group decreased from 7.5 before treatment to 2.8 after treatment, the conventional pharmacotherapy group from 7.2 to 4.6, and the placebo group from 7.3 to 6.8.
Duration of Pain Relief: In the acupoint injection group, 80% of patients reported pain relief lasting more than 48 hours, compared to only 25% in the conventional pharmacotherapy group and 5% in the placebo group.
Improvement in Functional Status (based on standard functional status scales): 75% in the acupoint injection group, 50% in the conventional pharmacotherapy group, and 20% in the placebo group.
Enhancement of Quality of Life (based on the SF-36 questionnaire): The overall quality of life improvement score was 25 points in the acupoint injection group, 10 points in the conventional pharmacotherapy group, and 2 points in the placebo group.
Incidence Rate of Side Effects: 10% in the acupoint injection group, mainly temporary discomfort at the injection site; 35% in the conventional pharmacotherapy group, including indigestion and headache; 5% in the placebo group.
Patient Satisfaction (based on a 10-point satisfaction scale): 8.5 on average in the acupoint injection group, 6 in the conventional pharmacotherapy group, and 3 in the placebo group.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that acupoint injection therapy has significant advantages in the treatment of chronic pain. It can significantly reduce pain intensity, prolong the duration of pain relief, and improve the functional status and quality of life of patients. Compared to conventional pharmacotherapy, acupoint injection therapy has a lower incidence of side effects and higher patient satisfaction. Therefore, acupoint injection therapy is an effective and safe treatment method for chronic pain and is worthy of further promotion in clinical practice. Future research should focus on optimizing acupoint selection and medication formulation to further enhance treatment effects.
