OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of fire-needle therapy on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a fire-needle group and an electroacupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. The fire-needle group was treated with fire-needle therapy and routine acupuncture, i.e., the fire-needle was given to the points on the lesion segments, and Jiaji (EX-B 2) and Ashi points above and bellow the segments, and routine acupuncture was given at Shenshu (BL 23), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30), etc.; the electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the points as those in the fire-needle group. The scores of McGill Pain Rating Scale, Visual Analogous Scale (VAS) and present pain intensity (PPI) were compared before and after treatment for 2 weeks in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, all of the scores of McGill Pain Rating Scale, VAS and PPI were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01); the scores of emotion in the McGill Pain Rating Scale, VAS and PPI in the fire-needle group were significantly decreased as compared with those of the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth fire-needle therapy and electroacupuncture can effectively relieve pain in the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, but the former is better than the latter.