Yunmen (LU 2) combined with neck-seven-acupoint acupuncture for arm numbness caused by cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: A case report

RATIONALE: Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is a common sensory, motor, and reflex disorder. Numbness, a common subjective symptom of CSR, lacks objective quantitative indicators and recognized effective treatments, but is also difficult to recover from. We present a case report describing a traditional acupuncture treatment for CSR, utilizing a special acupuncture method and point, namely the Yunmen point. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 40-year-old woman presented with unilateral arm numbness caused by CSR. DIAGNOSES: A diagnosis of CSR was made in the orthopedic department of a local hospital. INTERVENTIONS: We attempted acupuncture at the Yunmen (LU 2) acupoint combined with neck-seven-acupoint under computed tomographic guidance. OUTCOMES: After 10 times treatment sessions, the patient no longer experienced weakness, coldness, or numbness in the affected upper limb. In addition, the stiffness in the neck and shoulders was reduced. On physical examination, the patient's left brachial plexus traction test was negative; reassessment of the CSR-20-point score scale showed a perfect score, and the visual analog scale score was 0. LESSONS: Our report indicates that acupuncture at the LU 2 acupoint combined with neck-seven-acupoint is effective in treating numbness and coldness of the arm, and other neurological symptoms caused by cervical spondylosis. Moreover, with the appropriate acupuncture technique, the risk of acupuncture at the LU 2 acupoint can be minimized.