Cluteal nerve entrapment

The characteristics of clinical treatment at Bethune Oriental Medical Center mainly refer to the effective control and treatment for related conditions by using acupuncture and other therapies.  Lower back pain is a most common clinical symptom which may be caused by a variety of diseases.  Lumbar disc herniation is one of them.  There is another disease that can cause lower back pain and may be easily confused with lumbar disc herniation.   That is the cluteal nerve entrapment

Cluteal Nerve is located in the active part of the waist.  This part is vulnerable to injury which may cause aseptic inflammation, adhesions or scar contracture and result in diminished neural channel, nerve compression or displacement.  This will in turn induce symptoms of the clunial epidermal nerve pain.

Patients with cluteal nerve pain suffer from piercing pain, soreness or tearing pains in the hip.  Patient with acute onset may feel severe pain radiating to the lower limbs, but generally no further than the knee area.The patient is limited when bending and has difficulties to sit up.  Most frequently the patient may experience apparent tenderness at the location about 3-4 cm lower to midpoint of the iliac crest and there is a rope-like abnormal tissue under the skin.

There are a number of causes to cluteal nerve pain.  According to the clinical observation, most cases are caused by the acute and/or chronic injury of soft tissues in the waist and hip areas due to lifting, bad posture, prolonger back muscles tense or suffering from a chill.  The nerves are often involved.  Hyperemia and edema can cause nerve damage and even bleeding.  Nerves may be fused in bundles with aseptic inflammation in surrounding tissues, resulting in nerve pain.

Western medicine often uses anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxation drugs in the treatment of acute low back pain.  However, we found that Western medicine does not alleviate some symptoms or even invalid in the clinical practice as the causes of acute low back pain vary.  On the contrary, Treatment based on syndrome differentiation by the Traditional Chinese Medicine often shows its strength and benefits.

At Bethune Oriental Medical Center, the treatment of the cluteal nerve entrapment during acute pain is based on the principle of reducing pain and inflammation, dredging the channels, improving blood circulation and balancing the Yin and Yang.  Acupuncture at local tenderness points can be applied in combination with massage, moxibustion, bleeding and external application of Chinese medicines and other therapies.  At the same time, it is very important to encourage patients in the course of treatment.  The patient is asked to have confidence and actively cooperate in the treatment.

Clinical observation shows that patients with cluteal nerve entrapment suffer tremendous pain.  However, acupuncture has significant effects.  1-3 times of treatment can significantly improve the situation and the patient becomes more confident and more cooperative in the treatment.