A case report of immediate effects of acupuncture on neuropathic cancer breakthrough pain

• Published in: Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2022-08, Vol.48, p.101599-101599, Article 101599
• Main Authors: Huemer, Matthias, Jahn-Kuch, Daniela, Hofmann, Guenter, Pichler, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Cancer pain; Complementary & alternative medicine (CAM); Neuropathic pain; Pain management; Palliative care
• ISSN: 1744-3881; 1873-6947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101599

Acupuncture is a promising treatment for visceral cancer pain, but to date, evidence for immediate effects on neuropathic pain is limited. This report presents a case of immediate pain relief by single-needle acupuncture on opioid-refractory neuropathic breakthrough pain in a 78-year-old female breast cancer patient with cervical bone metastases. Acupuncture was applied at a single point neuroanatomically correlating to the pain affected spinal segment. Immediately after acupuncture, the patient reported a complete pain relief lasting for one day. In the following days, neuropathic breakthrough pain was better manageable with reduced dosages of opioids. Acupuncture is possibly effective in providing immediate and safe pain relief in neuropathic cancer pain through neuromodulating effects on the spinal and central nervous level. Randomized controlled studies with individualized acupuncture point protocols are needed to establish efficacy and safety. •Acupuncture can have immediate effects on neuropathic cancer pain.•Acupuncture may be a fast way to improve the pain management of neuropathic pain.•Acupunctures analgesic effect seems strongly associated to segmental inhibition.