Background： Trigeminal neuralgia （TN） is a neuropathic pain syndrome. It is the most frequent cranial neuralgia and defined as sudden, usually unilateral and lightning-like, knife-like or burning-like recurrent epi...Background： Trigeminal neuralgia （TN） is a neuropathic pain syndrome. It is the most frequent cranial neuralgia and defined as sudden, usually unilateral and lightning-like, knife-like or burning-like recurrent episodes of pain within the distribution area of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Here we reported that an 81-year-old woman with TN who complained of severe pain on her right face showed a complete clinical relief after comprehensive therapy containing fire needle, filiform needle and blood-letting therapy. Methods： The patient was applied fire needle combined with filiform needle therapy （3 times / week for 4 months） and three consecutive fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy （3 times / week for one week）. Fire needle was inserted into the back points of Du meridian, the first lateral line of bladder meridian, the right spreading area of the trigeminal nerve and the points around the pain radiation site. The filiform needle acupuncture was applied to the points on the right face including Yuyao （EX-HN4）, Yangbai （GB14）, Toulinqi （GB15）, et al; points on the abdomen including Xiawan （RN10）, Qihai （RN16）, Guanyuan （RN14） and the bilateral points including Tianshu （ST25）, Daheng （SP15）, Zusanli （ST36）, et al. Finally, the three-edged fire needle punctured the points of Yangbai （GB41）, Shangguan （GB3）, Jiache （ST6） on the right face accompanied by the cupping method on the bleeding points. Results： The patient reported the complete disappearance of pain and could open mouth and eat normally. The face was normal and no triggering pain recurred after one-month follow-up. Conclusions： The fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy can cure the TN and might provide an alternative non-drug therapy for those patients who still suffered from TN after other medical treatments or whom that refused surgical treatment.展开更多
文摘Background： Trigeminal neuralgia （TN） is a neuropathic pain syndrome. It is the most frequent cranial neuralgia and defined as sudden, usually unilateral and lightning-like, knife-like or burning-like recurrent episodes of pain within the distribution area of one or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Here we reported that an 81-year-old woman with TN who complained of severe pain on her right face showed a complete clinical relief after comprehensive therapy containing fire needle, filiform needle and blood-letting therapy. Methods： The patient was applied fire needle combined with filiform needle therapy （3 times / week for 4 months） and three consecutive fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy （3 times / week for one week）. Fire needle was inserted into the back points of Du meridian, the first lateral line of bladder meridian, the right spreading area of the trigeminal nerve and the points around the pain radiation site. The filiform needle acupuncture was applied to the points on the right face including Yuyao （EX-HN4）, Yangbai （GB14）, Toulinqi （GB15）, et al; points on the abdomen including Xiawan （RN10）, Qihai （RN16）, Guanyuan （RN14） and the bilateral points including Tianshu （ST25）, Daheng （SP15）, Zusanli （ST36）, et al. Finally, the three-edged fire needle punctured the points of Yangbai （GB41）, Shangguan （GB3）, Jiache （ST6） on the right face accompanied by the cupping method on the bleeding points. Results： The patient reported the complete disappearance of pain and could open mouth and eat normally. The face was normal and no triggering pain recurred after one-month follow-up. Conclusions： The fire needle combined with blood-letting therapy can cure the TN and might provide an alternative non-drug therapy for those patients who still suffered from TN after other medical treatments or whom that refused surgical treatment.
