Clinical study on analgesic effect of acupuncture combined with point injection in patients with discogenic low back pain

To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with vitamin B₁₂ point injection on pain severity in patients with discogenic low back pain and to analyze its potential mechanisms.

A total of 96 patients with discogenic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received acupuncture treatment, while the combined group received vitamin B₁₂ point injection in addition to the identical acupuncture treatment in the control group. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were compared before treatment, after 1 week of treatment, and after 2 weeks of treatment. The levels of such serum inflammatory factors as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, serum beta-endorphin (β-EP), and prostaglandin (PG) E₂ were compared before and after treatment. Adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups after treatment.

The total effective rate in the combined group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The VAS and ODI scores in the combined group after 1 week and 2 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the control group at the same time point (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE₂ in the combined group were lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05), while the level of β-EP was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P<0.05).

Acupuncture combined with vitamin B₁₂ point injection can alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in patients with discogenic low back pain; reducing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE₂ and increasing the level of β-EP may be part of the mechanism of the therapy.