BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a kind of non-articular rheumatism, manifested as pain and stiffness in various parts of body, associated with sleep disturbance, fatigue, etc. But, the therapeutic effects of common therapies are not satisfactory. OBJECTIVE: To compare dermal neurological electric stimulation and electric acupuncture with routine medication and explore the therapeutic effects on fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment was designed, in which the patients were taken as the objects in observation. SETTING: First and Third Hospital Affiliated to Xinxiang Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 66 cases of FS were selected in Clinic of Rehabilitation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from July 1994 to May 2002, all of which were the followed-up cases. They were randomized as dermal-neurological electric stimulation group (DE group), electric acupuncture group (EA group) and medical group, 22 cases in each one. The patients were aged varied from 42 to 55 years and sick in range from 7 to 13 months. METHODS: (1) DE group: FZ-1 low-frequency pulsating apparatus was used. Two pairs of electrodes were attached to two pairs of main points that were near to the most distinct pain points and another pair was attached to 1 pair of supplementary points. Continuous wave was selected, pulsating width was 6 to 150 ms, high frequency 100 Hz and 15 minutes later, changed to low frequency 2 Hz, for another 15 minutes, intensity about (14 +/- 3) mA, once /d, continuously for 20 days as one session, totally 2 sessions were required. 4-day rest was demanded between two sessions. (2) EA group: No.28 filiform needle was used to be inserted on the points deeply, after qi arrival D G-6805 electric apparatus was applied on the points. Point selection, operation and time of treatment were same as DE group. (3) Medical group: Oryzanol and Vit B1 were administrated orally, 30 mg/tablet, 3 times a day. Amitriptyline was administrated, 10 mg every day at beginning, increased by 10 mg every day till to 20 to 30 mg. It was taken orally once before sleep, totally for 45 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Comparison of therapeutic effects on analgesia in each group. (2) Comparisons of follow-up visits of cured cases and cases with remarkable effects in 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment. RESULTS: Totally 66 cases all entered the result analysis. (1) Comparison of total effective rate of analgesia: The rates in DE group and EA group were higher significantly than medical group (100%, 95.5%, 68.2%D Chi2 = 18.03, 17.27, p < 0.01). (2) Comparison of recurrence rate: The rates in DE group and EA group in 24 months after treatment were lower remarkably than medical group (7.1%, 6.1%, 50.0%D Chi2 = 7.01, 6.91; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both dermal electric stimulation and electric acupuncture present strong analgesia and low recurrence rate. Dermal neurological electric stimulation on acupoints is a kind of non-traumatic method in treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.

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