Low Level Laser Therapy in Acupuncture Mode for Management of Pain due to DeQuervain's Disease

To determine the effectiveness of irradiation of the painful area along with stimulation of the acupuncture points using low level laser therapy in the management of pain due to DeQuervain's disease.

Laser irradiation using Ga Al As diode laser was performed on 24 painful wrists with DeQuervain's disease. Besides the site of pain, acupuncture points Li 4, Li 5, Lu 7 and Lu 9 were also stimulated. Pain was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and was graded as Complete, Excellent, Good or Poor relief. Treatment was continued in the courses interspersed with a few days break until the patient achieved complete resolution of symptoms.

At the end of the first, second and third courses, mean VAS scores were 2.58±1.79, 0.87±1.07, 0.25±0.53 respectively from base line score of 10 on presentation. The number of patients who experienced complete, excellent and good pain relief at the end of first course were 3, 7, and 12 and 8, 11 and 2 patients, respectively. Mean number of irradiations to achieve complete pain relief were 16.58±2.94. Mean follow-up period after treatment was 13.63±10.18 months. No patient reported recurrence of symptoms, neurological impairment or any side effect during treatment or the follow-up period.

Low level laser irradiation at the site of pain in combination with stimulation of acupuncture points is effective in the management of pain due to DeQuervain's disease. The authors suggest that low level laser therapy should be given a trial in persistent pain before resorting to surgery.