Expensive drug infusions, physiotherapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are among the most common treatment strategies for hemophilia-related joint pain. Hemophilia sufferers experience uncontrolled internal bleeding that often occurs in the spaces surrounding joints, causing significant pain and disability.
Is there a better way to manage the pain? Yes, suggests new research: acupuncture. Published in Haemophilia, the official journal of the World Association of Hemophilia, this single-blinded clinical trial involved 28 hemophilia patients assigned to receive either acupuncture or TENS. All patients had chronic joint pain due to their condition. The acupuncture group received traditional unilateral acupuncture on the side of greatest referred pain, while the TENS (control) group received TENS with electrodes placed on the joint experiencing the most intense pain.
Both groups received treatment once per week (20-minute session) for five consecutive weeks, after which researchers evaluated the same variables they had assessed prior to initiating treatment: pain intensity (visual analogue scale), physical assessment, quality of life and treatment expectation.
Acupuncture reduced pain intensity compared to TENS, to a statistically significant degree. Satisfaction with treatment also was higher in the acupuncture group vs. the control (TENS) group. Physical assessment and quality of life were similar among the two groups.
Source: Oliveira KCP, et al. Acupuncture as a therapeutic resource for treatment of chronic pain in people with haemophilia. Haemophilia, Sept. 30, 2020 (epub ahead of print).
Because traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views the human body as an interconnected network of energy (qi) and seeks to restore balance and harmony, ensuring the smooth flow of qi and blood is crucial to nourish and regulate the reproductive system. TCM treatment aims to regulate menstruation, reduce anovulatory menstruation, help ovulation, improve egg quality, stabilize progesterone, and provide a good endometrium environment for successful implantation and pregnancy.
U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) have reintroduced the Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act (nowH.R. 1667) in the 119th Congress. As with previous iterations of the legislation, H.R. 1667 would authorizethe U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize qualified acupuncturists as Medicare providers. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) both weigh in on the importance of the legislation.
What’s the single most important thing to ensure your patient gets better? The key is patient education and scheduling appropriately. But how do you do that in a clinically relevant way that is representative of a medical professional? The answer lies in the most fundamental aspect of our intakes: OPQRST(L).
