Comparison effect of acupoint injection by mixture of methyl prednisolone acetate and lidocain with oral medication in acute low back pain

Background and Acupuncture is a treatment useful in reducing and eliminating pain. This study was undertaken to present a simple and fast method of treatment in acute radicular low back pain by injection of acupoints.Fifty patients with acute low back pain with positive Straight Leg Raising (SLR) test were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Physical examination in the pilot study showed that patients have five tender acupoints including BL-57, BL-40, BL-36 or 37, BL-23 and GB-30. The subjects in the first group were injected in at least 3 acupoints of these 5 points. Injection was done only once by mixing 2cc of lidocaine 2% and 1ml of methylprednisolone acetate (40 mg). The subjects of the second group took medication such as piroxicam 20 mg orally, methocarbamol 1500 mg and diazepam 10 mg daily for one week. Dependent variables were measured including; pain intensity was measured by Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), balance and weight bearing ability was measured by Standard Hopping Scale (SHS), sciatic nerve stretch was measured by SLR, patients’ function was measured by Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS) questioner.Both groups were equal statistically before starting treatment, but there was a significant difference between them in variables BPFS and SHS 10 days after treatment. The mean of decreased pain intensity in NPRS and SLR were equal but effective in both group on the 10th day. It seems that effect of injection with acupuncture points in acute low back pain not only is as good as medical treatment but it is also better than that. In this treatment, there was no report of secondary complication to treatment. So, in patients with acute radicular LBP, injection of tender acupoints is an effective, safe, economical, and time saving method of treatment.