Electro-Acupunture for Neuropathic Pain After Brachial Plexus Injury

The effect of electro-acupuncture on pain following brachial plexus injury is unknown, although the procedure has traditionally been used to treat pain.

In a recent study reported on the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 9, No. 14, 2014), rat models of an avulsion injury to the left brachial plexus root (associated with upper-limb chronic neuropathic pain) were given electroacupuncture stimulation at bilateral Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI04), Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34).

Brachial Plexus Injury-Causes-Risk factors-Symptoms-Complications-Diagnosis-Treatment
Brachial plexus is a network of nerves that transmits signals from the spine to shoulder, arm and hand.

After electroacupuncture therapy, chronic neuropathic pain in the rats' upper limbs was significantly attenuated. Immunofuorescence staining showed that the expression of β-endorphins in the arcuate nucleus was significantly increased after therapy.

Thus, Shenyu Zhang and co-workers from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China, indicate that electroacupuncture can attenuate neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury through upregulating β-endorphin expression.

Source-Eurekalert

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