Wen-Long Hu
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan
Title: Laser acupuncture in pain management
Biography
Biography: Wen-Long Hu
Abstract
Objective: To determine the therapeutic effect of laser acupuncture in pain management. Methods: This study includes five cases of intractable pain. Each subject was treated once per day (acute pain) or three times per week (chronic pain) with gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) laser (Handylaser Trion, RJ-Laser; Reimers & Janssen GmbH, Winden, Germany; Table 1 & 2) therapy. The instrument was used to deliver 0.375 J of energy sequentially to each acupoint or 3 J to each Ashi point, for durations of 5 s or 40 s, respectively. The pain visual analog scale (VAS) and related disability of the patients were evaluated throughout the treatment by WLH. Clinical features: Case 1. A 59-year-old man had been unable to chew hard food (e.g. peanuts, etc.) for many years. He complained of jaw pain at rest (VAS = 9) and restriction of mandibular movement over the previous 2 months. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was diagnosed and the initial conventional medical treatments offered by a dentist, otolaryngologist, and oral surgeon were ineffective. The patient was referred to our clinic and treated with laser acupuncture. The laser was used to deliver 0.375 J of energy sequentially to each of the following acupoints once daily, and thereafter three times per week after an initial eight treatments: ST7, ST6, and LI4. In addition, the laser was applied to the Ashi points on and near the temporomandibular joints and/or masseter muscles, delivering 3 J of energy to each. Case 2. A 55-year-old woman complained of pain in the left buttock radiating to her left foot. The patient visited the emergency department and orthopedic clinic for initial treatment, which was ineffective. Sciatica and lumbosacral radicular syndrome was diagnosed. The patient was confined to a wheelchair (VAS = 9.6) and visited us for further treatment 4 days later. The Handylaser Trion was used to apply 0.375 J to the following acupoints once daily, and thereafter three times per week after an initial eight treatments: GB30, GB34, GB44, BL25, BL40, BL54, BL60, BL67, ST36, and ST45.