OBJECTIVETo observe the difference of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with superficial needling for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and to explore the synergy effect between acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) and superficial needling.

METHODSSixty patients with LDH were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with superficial needling at the corresponding myofascial fasciae trigger point (MTrP) and leave the plastic tube in the body for 6 hours, and then acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) and the needle was remained for 30 min. The control group was treated with superficial needling simply. Both groups were treated once daily, five days in succession with 2 days interval, 10 times constituting a treating course for 2 courses. The average onset time of analgesic effect and the effect-lasting time after the first treatment were observed. The mean pain scores after the first treatment and after two treatment courses were compared by McGill pain inquire scale.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the average onset time of the two groups [(5.10 +/- 3.70) min vs (5.93 +/- 5.09) min, P > 0.05]. But the effect-lasting time of (13.00 +/- 6.90) h in the observation group was longer than that of (6.27 +/- 3.98) h in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the scores of Pain Rating Index (PRI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI) after the first treatment, there were no significant statistical differences between the two groups (all P > 0.05). But the same comparison after 2 treating courses showed that the scores of PRI, VAS and PPI in the observation group were lower than the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) can extend the analgesic time and enhance the analgesic effect of the superficial needling.