Acupuncture is effective for neuropathic pain (nerve pain)

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Neuropathic pain, also known as nerve pain, is a type of pain that occurs due to damage to the nervous system. It can arise from any level of the nervous system, including the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Patients with neuropathic pain typically experience spontaneous and/or evoked pain. Spontaneous pain is characterized by shooting, burning, stabbing, or electric shock-like pain, as well as tingling, numbness, or a "pins and needles" sensation. Evoked pain, on the other hand, is pain brought on by normally non-painful stimuli, such as cold, gentle brushing against the skin, or pressure, and can also be increased by normally painful stimuli like pinpricks and heat.

Neuropathic pain is a common problem, affecting more than 7% of the general population and accounting for 20 to 25% of individuals with chronic pain. However, treating neuropathic pain is a significant challenge, and the available treatment options are often limited by side effects and tolerance. In this context, acupuncture has emerged as a promising therapy for improving neuropathic pain with a low incidence of adverse events.

Acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of neuropathic pain conditions, including peripheral and/or central nerve injury, neuropathic pain induced by diabetes, anticancer chemotherapy, post-stroke pain, and Parkinson's disease. Clinical research has confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture for neuropathic pain through several systemic reviews and meta-analyses. For instance, a study investigating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy found that after 8 weeks of treatment and follow-up, the acupuncture group showed a greater reduction in pain scores than the vitamin B1 or gabapentin group. Furthermore, nerve conduction studies were improved more in the acupuncture group, and no adverse events were observed.

Another study that included 88 reviews showed that acupuncture improves diabetic peripheral neuropathy by increasing nerve conduction velocity and improving clinical symptoms. Based on currently available evidence, acupuncture appears to be more effective than pharmacotherapy or surgery with a high degree of safety for improving neuropathic pain.

Acupuncture works by inhibiting neuronal activity caused by neuropathic pain, reducing the activation of pain-related ion channels, and suppressing glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, that release inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, among others. Acupuncture also activates the descending pain control system by increasing the level of spinal or brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and opioid peptides. Cumulative evidence demonstrates that acupuncture provides an alternative or adjunctive therapy for neuropathic pain.

One example of neuropathic pain that can be treated with acupuncture is trigeminal neuralgia. This condition causes sharp, stabbing pain in the face, and can be debilitating for sufferers. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating this condition, providing much-needed relief for those experiencing the pain.

In conclusion, neuropathic pain is a challenging condition to treat, and the available treatment options are often limited by side effects and tolerance. However, acupuncture has emerged as a promising therapy for improving neuropathic pain with a low incidence of adverse events. Acupuncture works by inhibiting neuronal activity caused by neuropathic pain, reducing the activation of pain-related ion channels, and suppressing glial cells that release inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, among others. Acupuncture also activates the descending pain control system by increasing the level of spinal or brain 5-HT, NE, and opioid peptides. Cumulative evidence demonstrates that acupuncture provides an alternative or adjunctive therapy for neuropathic pain, and it appears to be more effective than pharmacotherapy or surgery with a high degree

References

Xin Ma et al Front Neurosci. 2022; 16: 940343.

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