Effect of electro-acupuncture rehabilitation in transverse myelitis: A case report

Publication date: Available online 11 July 2017 Source:Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies Author(s): Sriloy Mohanty, Rabin Lal Shrestha A 32-year-old male diagnosed with Transverse myelitis [TM] in 2013 came to our clinic in 2015 with complaints of paraplegia, sensory disturbances, pain, exertional dyspnoea, poor quality of sleep, emotional instability and depression. This was a recurrent attack which had exacerbated due to post-traumatic stress. Because of the pain and functional disabilities, he was struggling to actively participate in the treatment modalities offered in our centre. A modified protocol of electro-acupuncture was planned for a period of 21 days, every day, each session lasting for 30 minutes. Assessments based on WHO Brief QOL questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI],Visual Analogue scale [VAS] and a disease-specific physical examination showed momentous improvement in functional health status as well as mental wellbeing. The quality of life showed significant improvement particularly on the physical and psychological dimensions of WHO Brief QOL. The patient reported a reduction in pain, dyspnoea, and fatigue accompanied by an improvement in the quality of sleep and mood. This case report suggests that acupuncture can play a vital role in amelioration of symptoms and thereby improving the health status in patients with TM.
Source: Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research