OBJECTIVETo compare the efficiency difference in chronic orchialgia between electroacupuncture and western medicine and explore the better therapy for chronic orchialgia.

METHODSEighty-six cases of chronic orchialgia were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (56 cases) and an Indomethacin group (30 cases). Except the conventional oral administration of Amitriptyline for anti-depression, electroacupuncture was applied at Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3) and others in electroacupuncture group, and Indometacin suppository anal therapy was used in Indometacin group. The session of treatment in two groups was 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, pain number assessment scale was adopted for the assessment of pain severity separately to compare the differences in pain score on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th days after treatment.

RESULTSThe pain score at each time point was improved remarkably as compared with that before treatment in two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In comparison on the 7th, 10th and 14th days of two groups, the pain scores in electroacupuncture group was lower than those in Indometacin group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with Amitriptyline treatment is quite effective on chronic orchialgia, which is superior to the effect of Indo methacin combined with Amitriptyline treatment and deserves to be promoted in application.