ABSTRACT
Acupuncture was performed in 40 patients with chronic pain of the knee joint more than 6 months due to arthralgia of the knee, from both sexes [10 males and 30 females] and different ages to relief pain and to assess the degree of articular mobility of knee joint. All patients were assessed as regards analgesia, articular mobility, pulse, BP, respiratory rate and levels of cortisol, while sugar and serum potassium were estimated. It was found that acupuncture produced significant analgesic effect with improvement of articular mobility. Regarding pulse rate, BP and respiratory rate, there were no effects observed. Serum cortisol level showed significant decrease following acupuncture therapy, glucose and serum potassium showed insignificant changes
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Pain/therapyABSTRACT
Forty healthy patients without local or systemic contraindication for intra-articular drug injection were submitted for management of chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee joint. They were divided into two groups [each contained 20 patients]: Group A in which steroidal drug depomedrol was injected intra-articularly, and group B, in which non steroidal drug [liometacen] was used. All patients were assessed as regards analgesia, B.P., pulse and respiratory rate, cortisol, sugar and serum potassium level and were observed for the knee motion degree in flexion and extension. Analgesia and articular mobility were found to be satisfactory in group "A" [depomedrol group] and unsatisfactory in group "B" [liometacen group]. Regarding pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate showed insignificant change in both groups. Serum cortisol level was estimated in the 2 groups and showed that its level was decreased after pain relief in group "A" and insignificantly decreased in group "B". Blood glucose and serum potassium level were also estimated before and after therapy but with no significant importance in both groups