Spinal Cord Injury, Disc Disease and Benefits of Acupuncture

Spinal cord pain is present in many dogs and cats and can be caused by spondylitis, disc disease, lumbosacral stenosis, and degenerative arthritis. We can expect these pets to benefit from acupuncture just as subjects benefited in the study from the Neurodegeneration Control Research Center. Acupuncture points used included GV 26, GB 34 and SP 6.

Not only does clinical experience support the use of acupuncture, but there are lots of research studies that show how it is effective. For example, a study recently published (Sept 2013) by scientists from the Neurodegeneration Control Research Center, Kyung Hee Univ, Seoul, Korea described acupuncture relief of pain from damaged spinal cord pain. The researchers looked at enzymes produced by the astrocyte cells in damaged spinal cords and found that acupuncture inhibited JNK (Jun-N-terminal kinase) enzyme in the astrocytes. This decrease in NJK was associated with decreased pain (allodynia) and with decreased sensitivity to heat (thermal hyperalgesia).

To learn more about this research and the effect of acupuncture on nerve cells in the spinal cord, read:  Analgesic Effect of AP Is Mediated via Inhibition of JNK Activation in Astrocytes after Spinal Cord Injury. Lee JY, Choi DC, Oh TH, Yune TY. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 9;8(9):e73948. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073948.