Sciatica is a medical term that refers to reduced discomfort levels.
The research demonstrated that acupuncture alone has a success rate of 81.6% for reducing or eliminating the discomfort, allowing sufferers to confidently report that a combination of acupuncture and medicinal herbs were more successful than acupuncture alone when used in the treatment of lower back and body pain.
The scientific study measured levels of a serum called B-EP, which is known tory results than relying on acupuncture alone as a treatment therapy for lower back pain.
The study followed a number of internationally recognized metrics for measuring pain, including the Visual Analog Scale, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association method for scoring pain, as well as the renowned Owestry Disability Index. These metrics were used throughout the study to document the discomfort levels in patients when lifting, walking, performing daily activities, sleeping, standing, socializing, and traveling. Every patient was rated for their pain on all three scales before beginning therapy, as well as three, 10, and 22 days after undergoing both acupuncture therapy and a course of treatment of medicinal herbs.
The researchers chose the following acupuncture points to administer acupuncture for back pain during the study:
Zhibian, BL54
Ashi
Chengfu, BL36
Yaoyangguan, DU3
Huantiao, GB30
Chengshan, BL57
Fengshi, GB31
Dachangshu, BL25
Weizhong, BL40
In addition, several other acupuncture for back pain points were also included for some patients to address individual complaints. For patients suffering from “qi stagnation” and “blood stasis”, the therapists included both Taichong (LV3) and Xuehai (SP10) acupuncture points. To treat kidney and liver “deficiencies”, the acupuncture points Shenshu (BL23) and Taixi (KD3) were also included. For patients suffering from “cold and damp stasis”, the acupuncture point Yanglingquan (GB34) was used as well.
The medicinal herbs tested during the study came from the formula known as “Tong Bi Zhi Tong Tang”, the ingredients of which include:
Eucommia ulmoides
Chinese taxillus
Honey-fried licorice root
Rhizoma arisaematis
Rhizoma cibotii
Bugbane
Cassia
Clematis
Safflower
Cyathula officinalis
Angelica
Chuan Xiong
Depending on individual diagnoses, some patients were given supplementary medicinal herbs, including: radix aconiti preparata, asarum sieboldii, Boswellia carterii, myrrh, astragalus, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Cornel.
About the Author
Dr. Lev Kalika is a world-recognized expert in musculoskeletal ultrasonography, with 20+ years of clinical experience in advanced rehabilitative medicine. In addition to operating his clinical practice in Manhattan, he regularly publishes peer-reviewed research on ultrasound-guided therapies and procedures.
Dr. Kalika is an esteemed member of the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment ((SMST), and the only clinician in New York certified by the ISMST to perform extracorporeal shockwave therapy. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), and has developed his own unique approach to dynamic functional and fascial ultrasonography.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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