• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.78-89
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• 2023

This paper presents the clinical outcome of an 82-year-old female who experienced sudden back pain combined with lower limb paresthesia and weakness after epidural steroid injection. The magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine showed a spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) extending from T8 to L4. She was treated non-operatively in the traditional Korean medicine (TKM) hospital. The patient's progress was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM III), and self-reported symptoms. During the 22-day hospitalization period,the NRS score decreased from 7 to 2 points, the motor score on the ASIS scale increased from 65 to 95 points. The subjective sense of lower extremities was felt by 1 increased to 8. The SCIM III score increased from 32 to 69 points. These results suggest that TKM could effectively reduce pain and aid the rehabilitation of patients with SEH.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.803-813
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• 2023

Objective: This case report outlines an investigation into the efficacy of Korean medicine treatment in a patient who presented with acute cholangitis accompanying common bile duct stones. The patient underwent percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and subsequently experienced resolution of the common bile duct stones. Methods: The patient was treated with Shihosogan-tang, general acupuncture, ear acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapy. Changes in symptoms were evaluated using a self-reported numerical rating scale (NRS) score and a visual analog scale (VAS) score each morning. Laboratory tests were conducted to examine serum amylase, serum lipase, and liver function. Results: After 29 days, the NRS scores for indigestion and fatigue and the VAS score for abdominal pain all decreased. Additionally, the laboratory test results showed improvement. Discussion: The results suggest that Korean medicine could be effective in treating symptoms of acute cholangitis. However, further research is necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2024

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease causing significant pain and dysfunction. This case report presents the use of electromagnetic acupuncture utilizing a Whata 153 device generating a magnetic field to enhance acupuncture stimulation for the treatment of KOA. A 69-year-old female diagnosed with KOA experienced a reduction in pain (numerical rating scale score from 7 to 4), improved gait, and decreased stiffness and swelling after daily electromagnetic acupuncture treatments during hospitalization. In addition, the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scoreimproved from 20 to 14, and the patient rated her overall improvement as "significantly improved" on the patient's global impression of change scale. Although these findings suggest potential benefits of electromagnetic acupuncture for KOA, the case report design limits its generalizability. More controlled trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of electromagnetic acupuncture as a treatment of KOA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.488-496
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• 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to address a case of cerebral infarction with dysesthesia and weakness. Methods: A patient diagnosed with cerebral infarction with dysesthesia and weakness was treated with Korean medicine therapies including herbal medication (Sunhyunagjunggi-san) for 8 days. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, we used the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Results: After the treatment, the NIHSS and NRS scores dramatically decreased, and the symptoms no longer disturbed the patient. Although the symptoms of dysesthesia did not disappear completely, fine therapeutic effects were noted. Conclusion: These results suggested that Korean medicine therapies with Sunghyuangjunggi-san have a beneficial effect on the dysesthesia and weakness of cerebral infarction.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.760-767
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• 2019

Objective: This study reports the efficacy of using integrative Korean medicine treatments for a patient with facial paralysis and accompanying trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: A 45-year-old male patient with left side facial palsy and facial pain due to Bell's palsy with trigeminal neuralgia was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping for 18 days. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the scores for the numerical rating scale (NRS) of facial pain, the House-Brackmann scale, and the Yanagihara scale. Results: After the hospital treatment, the patient's facial pain NRS score was decreased, and the House-Brackmann scale and Yanagihara scale scores improved after the administration of the Korean medicine treatments. Conclusions: The integrative Korean medicine treatments appeared to be effective in treating facial nerve palsy and associated trigeminal neuralgia.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.359-371
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to find out the effectiveness of the therapeutic sports massage(TSM) applied to the patients with delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS) by measuring, assessing and analyzing the changes in intensity and unpleasantness of muscle pains before and after TSM. In the therapeutic sports massage program, such methods as effleurage, petrissage and deep transverse friction were selected as traditional massage treatments frequently used for muscles with pain and spasm. Effleurage and petrissage were applied for 20 minutes in total before and after deep transverse friction treatment. After TSM, the McGill pain questionnaire word list(MPQWL), verbal rating scale(VRS), visual analogue scale(VAS) were used to measure the degree of the pain on the patients. The major findings from this study are as follows; 1. The surveyed patients range from 15 to 63 in age, with highest numbers of 18(37.50%) registered in the twenties and next ones of 14(29.17%) in the thirties. Divided by sex, 27 are men and 21 are women totalling 48 with average age of 25.7. 2. There was significant decrease in the numerical values of VAS & VRS and MPQWL immediately after TSM(p<.05). There was also significant decrease in the numerical values of MPQWL, VRS and VAS after the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th TSM(p<.05). 3. There was significant decrease in the intensity and unpleasantness of pains after TSM(p<.05). 4. From the analysis into chronological changes in the intensity and unpleasantness of pains before and after TSM with ANOVA, it became evident that the longer the period of treatment was, the higher the pains decreases drastically, while significant difference was shown in the intensity and unpleasantness of pains(p<.05). Summed up, it can be generally concluded that TSM is an effective treatment to rid the patients with DOMS of pains safely and promptly.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2023

Background: Occipital neuralgia (ON) is an established risk factor for headaches in the posterior cervical region. Several conservative treatments by nerve decompression and pain relief are available for ON, but these treatments have limitations. Acupuncture treatment, which is known to demonstrate analgesic effects, involves various stimulation methods, and several studies have reported their clinical benefit. No recent systematic review (SR) has compared each acupuncture type for ON treatment. Thus, this SR aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of each acupuncture type for treating ON. Methods: We will identify relevant studies using electronic databases, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Digital Science Library (NDSL) from the inception until August 2023. The primary outcome will include the numerical change of pain symptoms (visual analog scale and numerical rating scale) and effective rate. Safety and secondary outcomes will include adverse events and quality of life. We will compare the conservative treatment with the acupuncture treatment using network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tools will be used to assess the quality of included trials. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation will be used to examine the evidence level. Conclusion: This study will provide clinical evidence of several acupuncture types for ON and help clinicians decide on the best.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2010

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate intercostal neuropathy after rib fracture and to determine the severity of intercostal neuropathy with using a numerical rating scale and according to the duration of pain and the body mass index. Material and Method: We measured the positive sharp wave and fibrillation on the intercostal and paraspinal muscles in the thoracic region by performing needle electromyography in 47 patients who had intercostal neuralgia after rib fracture and who had needed daily analgesic for more than three months. Result: We diagnosed 11 cases as intercostal neuropathy among the 47 cases. Of the total 11 cases, 8 were male and 3 were female and they were most often of an active generation in the community. The common location of intercostal neuropathy was the intercostal space below the rib fracture and from the 7th to the 12th intercostal rib area. The incidence of intercostal neuropathy was significantly related with multiple rib fracture rather than single rib fracture. The symptoms observed were chest pain (90.9%), sensory change (81.8%), paresthesia and numbness (63.6%), back pain (27.2%) and muscle atrophy (18.2%). The numerical rating scale, the duration of pain and the body mass index showed no significant correlation with the severity of intercostal neuropathy. Conclusion: We concluded that the electrodiagnostic approach with considering the affecting factors and the clinical findings will be helpful for diagnosing and treating persistent intercostal neuralgic pain (more than 3 months) after rib fracture.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2013

Aim : The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that treatment with self-checking behavior management program was valuable in the management of temporomandibular disorders compared with a existing method treatment group. Methods : All participants who are diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders were treated with medication and physical therapy. They came into the clinic at intervals of two weeks, three times. The signs and symptoms were assessed investigating Pain NRS(Numerical Rating Scale), MCO(Maximum comfortable opening), Noise NRS, LOM(Limitation of Mouth opening) NRS at every visit. Experimental group received instructions repeatedly by using self evaluation questionnaire. Control group was educated once at the beginning of treatment. The difference Pain NRS, MCO, Noise NRS, LOM NRS between first and second visits, first and third visits were estimated.. Result :Experimental group showed greater improvement on MCO difference after stopping medication(p=0.001). This improvements were prominent in the male(p=0.001) and the first or second decade of the patients(p=0.004). Conclusion : The present study showed that there was better result when educating repeatedly with using self evaluation questionnaire than educating once at the beginning of the treatment.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2010

Objectives : This study is designed to evaluate the effect of conservative oriental medical treatment using Chuna manual therapy for meridian sinew system for snapping hip patient who have hip joint movement system impairment. Methods : 28-year old snapping hip patient who have hip joint movement system impairment was treated with conservative oriental medical treatment using Chuna manual therapy for meridian sinew system. The improvement of the patient was evaluated by Numerical rating scale(NRS), Snapping Sound Degree(SSD), Range of Motion(ROM). Results: After 13 times treatment, the patient had significant improvement in Numerical rating scale(NRS), Snapping Sound Degree(SSD), Range of Motion(ROM). Conclusions: If hip joint movement system impairment cause a snapping hip, we can treat with Chuna manual therapy for meridian sinew system.