Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. It is clinically characterized by slow-progression muscular atrophy and loss of strength in the hands and feet. However, frequent pain of moderate-to-severe intensity is not always recognized as an important symptom. Treatment is typically symptomatic with the aim of improving musculoskeletal function. This case report describes the use of Western medical acupuncture for pain treatment in CMT.
Case:
The patient was a 43-year-old female with type 1B CMT with complaints of moderate-to-severe neuropathic and nociceptive pain that caused serious limitations on her mobility.
Intervention:
Despite optimization of pharmacologic treatment, this patient's pain relief was not satisfactory, so after identification of tender muscle trigger points, Western medical acupuncture, once per week, for 1 month was performed.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pain intensity was rated using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) to determine if treatment was efficient for achieving pain relief.
Results:
Starting with a worst pain in the last 24 hours (wNRS) of 6, after 4 sessions of acupuncture, this patient reported a wNRS of 5 on the scale. The acupuncture sessions were discontinued at that time according to the patient's wishes. Four weeks later, she was much better, had a current NRS (cNRS) of 2, and had began to walk with the help of orthotics.
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