Efficacy of combined application of traditional Chinese medicine foot bath and mild moxibustion in the treatment o f limb pain in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) foot bath and mild moxibustion in the treatment of limb pain in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: A total of 120 patients with symptoms of DPN-induced pain who were hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology in the 903rd Hospital of PLA, from January 2020 to June 2021, were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to a study group and a control group, with 60 patients in each group. Patients in both groups received conventional treatments and nursing care, while those in study group were additionally treated with a combination of TCM foot bath and mild moxibustion. Treatment efficacy in the patients was evaluated using Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), pain rating index (PRI), visual analogue scale (VAS), TCM symptom score (TCMSS), and Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS). Results: Compared with control group, there were significant improvements in pain-related scores, namely, SF-MPQ, (p ˂ 0.05); PRI, (p < 0.01); VAS, (p < 0.05); as well as overall efficacy (p < 0.05). Similar improvements were also observed with regard to TCMSS (p < 0.001) and TCSS (p < 0.001) in the study group. However, there were no significant changes in Adjusted Diabetes Quality of Life (A-DQOL) score and blood glucose control in both groups. Conclusion: Relative to the conventional treatment for DPN, limb pain and disease score of patients are significantly reduced by the combination of TCM foot bath and mild moxibustion treatments. Further clinical trials would be required prior to application in clinical practice.