Intractable Pain

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Hello All:

 

I have a patient, Worker's Comp case, who has seen me for 25 visits so far.

A tree fell on her back two years ago. She presents with pain between the

Left scapular border and the inner UB line between UB13 and UB16. Pain is

elicited with the slightest touch to skin of affected area, so she cannot

wear a bra or tight clothing. She gets pain on lifting anything with that

arm, and so is restricted to lifting less than 10 lbs from the floor and

3lbs over her head.

 

She responds immediately to a few different points, which I switch between.

I originally used Ling Gu, the Master Tang point proximal to LI4 at the

junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsals, on the opposite hand while having

her move the shoulder. This removed all palpation pain immediately. I have

also used two needles at UB25 (Kiiko Matsumoto technique) ipsilaterally to

produce the same result.

 

The crux: though I have tried numerous support points (SI3, UB60, local UB

points, contralateral UB points, huato t3-t6, plum blossom on area, UB17 and

18, and SP 9/Liv6 on the advice from a Master Tang practitioner), nothing

makes the results last longer than 7-10 days. Sometimes slightly longer,

sometimes slightly shorter, with no rhyme nor reason. She has a darkened

complexion and has S & S of blood stagnation. This last time I threw in SP10

to move blood, hopefully, along with local huato and UB25. We'll see. Any

ideas?

 

As an aside, Worker's Comp cases in general have responded the most poorly,

with the most idiosyncratic / opposite reactions, of any cases I have

encountered. Out of nine or so I have see, I have had long-term success with

only one. This patient seems quite motivated, and is frustrated / saddened

by the return of symptoms, but is immensely relieved after every treatment.

I don't feel that she is malingering, at least not consciously.

 

-Ben

 

 

Benjamin Hawes, MAOM, Lic. Ac.,

 

CORTEZ FAMILY ACUPUNCTURE

1430 E. Main Street, Suite #4

Cortez, CO 81321

(970) 565-0230