A Retrospective Study on Combined Traditional Korean Medicine Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy Patients Who Underwent Ineffective Epidural Steroid Injection Treatment

Abstract

This retrospective study reports the effects of combined traditional Korean treatment of cervical radiculopathy in patients who underwent ineffective epidural steroid injection treatment. This study analyzed cervical radiculopathy in patients who visited traditional Korean medicine hospital following an ineffective epidural steroid injection. There were 29 cases included in this study. Scores for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were measured before and after combined treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and chuna therapy. The results of this study showed that patient VAS scores for neck and shoulder pain were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) when comparing scores before treatment (6.03 ± 2.04) with after treatment (2.14 ± 1.27). In addition, the VAS score for radiating pain before treatment (6.67 ± 1.44) compared with after treatment (2.89 ± 1.83) showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the NDI score before treatment (25.85 ± 6.33) compared with after treatment (11.33 ± 7.47), also showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001). The results in this study showed the positive effects of combined traditional Korean medicine treatment in significantly reducing pain for patients with cervical radiculopathy, who had ineffective anesthesia.

Keywords

• anesthesia
• cervical radiculopathy
• herniated disc
• Korean traditional medicine
• steroids