Evaluation of an Effectiveness and Safety of the Electroacupuncture in the Management of Intractable Neuropathic Pain

Evaluation of an Effectiveness and Safety of the Electroacupuncture in the Management of Intractable Neuropathic Pain: An Open-labeled, Single-arm, Exploratory Pilot Study

The investigators will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment in refractory neuropathic pain patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in the patients with the following neuropathic pain related syndrome.

• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Diabetic neuropathy
• other peripheral neuropathy

Patients with refractory neuropathic pain who do not respond to conservative treatment for more than 3 months should be included. Acupuncture treatment is maintained for 2 months in oriental medicine hospital. The effect is evaluated through the numeric rating score and the validated questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who can adequately write a reportable questionnaire
• Patients who have been diagnosed with one of the following neuropathic pain disease (postherpetic neuralgia, failed back surgery syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, other peripheral neuropathy)
• Patients who failed conservative treatment at Seoul National University Hospital for more than 3 months.
• Patients with NRS 5 points or more
• Patients with painDETECT score 19 points or more

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with major mental illness
• Patients with unstable medical conditions
• Pregnant
• Patients who received acupuncture treatment at the site within the past month
• Patients with bleeding tendency
• Patients taking immunosuppressive drugs