Acupuncture And Spontaneous Regression Of A Radiculopathic Cervical Herniated Disc
Kim, S. H., Park, M. Y., Lee, S. M., Jung, H. H., Kim, J. K., Lee, J. D., Kim, D. W., Yeom, S. R., Lim, J. Y., Park, M. J., Park, S. W., & Kim, S. C. (2012). Acupuncture and spontaneous regression of a radiculopathic cervical herniated disc. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 15(2), 36–39. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2012.15.2.036
View Original Source →Abstract
The spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs is not a well-established phenomenon. However, we encountered a case of a spontaneous regression of a severe radiculopathic herniated cervical disc that was treated with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herb medicine. The symptoms were improved within 12 months of treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at that time revealed marked regression of the herniated disc. This case provides an additional example of spontaneous regression of a herniated cervical disc documented by MRI following non-surgical treatment.
Case Details
Disease Location
Herniated cervical disc (c7)
Personal Characteristics
59 years old; female
Clinical Characteristics
Intense neck pain, severe radiating pain in right c7 dermatomal distribution; unable to conduct normal activities or sleep; multiple degenerative changes of the cervical vertebra, and severely herniated disc to the right at the c6-c7 level; motor power assessed as grade 4+ and spurling test was positive on the right side
Remission Characteristics
Visual analog scale score improved from 10 points at admission to 3 points after 2 weeks of treatment; after 12 months, patient's symptoms were completely alleviated and no abnormal sensory, motor, or spurling test findings were observed; follow up MRI at 12 months showed that protruded disc had disappeared completely and no root compression was present
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
None stated
Clinical Treatment
Analgesics, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and muscle relaxant for 4 weeks; physiotherapy over 5 weeks
Non-Clinical Treatment
Acupuncture treatment; most frequently targeted local points were gv16, bl11, te10, gb20, bl10 and gb21, bl12; most frequently treated distant points were si3, te3, and li4; cupping, acupotomy, scolopendrid pharmacopuncture, traction an dherbal medicine