BACKGROUNDPost-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain.

METHODSSixty women, who had had spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at the Department of Obstetrics of China Medical University Hospital, were randomly assigned to the control group, the acupuncture group, and the electro-acupuncture group. After the operation, we applied subjects with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on the bilateral acupuncture point, San Yin Jiao (Sp6), and the patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The first time of requesting morphine, the frequency of PCA demands in 24 hours, and the doses of PCA used were recorded double blindly. In addition, monitoring the subjects' vital signs, the opioid-related side effects, and the pain scores was done.

RESULTSThe results showed that the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group could delay the time of requesting morphine up to 10 - 11 minutes when compared with the control group. The total dose of PCA used within the first 24 hours was 30% - 35% less in the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group when compared with the control group, which was indicated in statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group. The electro-acupuncture group's and the acupuncture group's pain scores were lower than the control group's within the first 2 hours. Both were statistically significant. However, two hours later, there were no significant differences of the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between either of the treatment groups and the control group. Finally, the incidence of opioid-related side effects, such as dizziness, was less in the acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that the application of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture could definitely delay the time of requesting pain relief medication after cesarean section and decrease the PCA doses used within the first 24 hours.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Morphine ; therapeutic use ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Pregnancy

To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Methods: Seven patients (10 elbows) with moderate cubital tunnel syndrome participated in this study. Three sessions of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (2,000 shots, 4 Bar, 5 Hz) (once a week) were administered to the ulnar nerve at the proximal cubital tunnel region. The primary and secondary outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (Quick DASH), respectively, at the 4th, 8th, and 12th week, following the 3rd session of shock wave therapy. Results: The VAS and Quick DASH scores demonstrated improvements at all follow-up time points, in all treated elbows. The mean VAS and Quick DASH score improved from 4.7±0.3(mean±SE) to2.2±0.2 and 16.6±2.1to 6.8±1.6 respectively during 12 weeks follow up (all p <0.01). Conclusion: This pilot study revealed the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with moderate cubital tunnel syndrome.