35 CASES OF PRIMARY TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA TREATED BY PAIN-POINT NEEDLING

The author has treated 35 cases of primary trigeminal neuralgia by using pain-point needling with satisfactory results.According to chief complaint of the patient,tendernesswas located.The needle was rapidly inserted the tenderness,obliquely into a depth of about 0.5cun,continuously manipulating the needle at a small amplitude and a high frequency,lifting-thrusting method used with twirling alternately for about 2 min.Then the needle was retained.The manipulation of the needle produced needling sensation of local soreness and distension with-in the limit of ease in the patient.Baihui（GV 20）,Hegu（LI 4）,Taichong（LR 3）points were com-bined.The needles at all the points were manipulated once each 10 min and retained for one hour.After withdrawal of the needle,Fengchi（GB 20）,Xiaguan（ST 7）,Taiyang（EX-HN 5）,Sibai（ST2）,Chengjiang（CV 24）on both sides and their surrounding regions received slightly pressing andrubbing for about 5 min.The treatment was given once a day,10 sessions constituting one c

35 CASES OF PRIMARY TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA TREATED BY PAIN-POINT NEEDLING

The author has treated 35 cases of primary trigeminal neuralgia by using pain-point needling with satisfactory results. According to chief complaint of the patient, tenderness was located. The needle was rapidly inserted the tenderness, obliquely into a depth of about 0. 5 cun, continuously manipulating the needle at a small amplitude and a high frequency, lifting-thrusting method used with twirling alternately for about 2 min. Then the needle was retained. The manipulation of the needle produced needling sensation of local soreness and distension within the limit of ease in the patient. BaihuKGV 20) ,Hegu(LI 4) ,Taichong(LR 3) points were combined. The needles at all the points were manipulated once each 10 min and retained for one hour. After withdrawal of the needle, Fengchi(GB 20) ,Xiaguan(ST 7) ,Taiyang(EX-HN 5),Sibai(ST 2),Cheng Jiang (CV 24) on both sides and their surrounding regions received slightly pressing and rubbing for about 5 min. The treatment was given once a day ,10 sessions constituting one course with a 5 day's interval between two courses. During the treatment,the patients stopped taking all analgesics and avoided cold and hot stimulation and uneasy mood.Of the 35 cases in the series,25 were cured accounting for 71. 4%;7 were remarkedly effective accounting for 20%; 3 improved accounting for 8. 6%. The effective rate was 100%. The author holds that the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia by using pain-point needling has characteristics of selecting less points,comfortable needling sensation,obvious analgesic effect and low recurrence rate.