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CONSENSUS GUIDELINES: ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIC PAIN (DPNP)
In evaluating the treatment of DPNP physicians are faced with many treatment options including non-pharmacological choices such as acupuncture. As you read in the following excerpt acupuncture was shown to be effective for the management of DPNP. Out of the group of patients receiving acupuncture treatment, 77% reported significant relief. 21% reported complete resolution of symptoms, and at the time of follow-up a full 66% of those patients reported continued relief of symptoms. These are very impressive results.
“Acupuncture probably falls somewhere between these 2 groups; it has minimal but not insignificant risks but also some evidence of analgesic efficacy in chronic pain and DPNP. It was evaluated in 46 patients with DPNP, 29 of whom were receiving drug treatment.
53 Patients received 6 sessions of traditional Chinese acupuncture throughout 10 weeks. Thirty-four (77%) reported significant improvement in symptoms (P<.01), including 7 (21%) who reported complete resolution of symptoms. Patients who completed the study (n=44) were then followed up for 18 to 52 weeks.
During the follow-up period, 66% of patients reported they could stop or reduce pain medications. Only 8 required additional acupuncture. No adverse events related to the acupuncture were reported, and there were no changes in peripheral neurologic examination scores or hemoglobin A1c levels. Acupuncture may relieve pain and/or reduce the need for pain medications in selected patients with DPNP.”
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine: Mayo Clinic Proceedings Supplement April 2006, Volume 81, Number 4, Page S22
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