[Fu's subcutaneous needling for postauricular pain in the treatment of acute idiopathic facial paralysis: a randomized controlled trial].

Researchers in China studied whether a specialized acupuncture technique called Fu's subcutaneous needling could help people with Bell's palsy (acute facial paralysis) who also experience pain behind the ear. The study included 66 patients who were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received standard medications (prednisone and mecobalamin) and traditional acupuncture at facial points. The treatment group additionally received Fu's subcutaneous needling at a point near the shoulder on the affected side. Treatment was provided once daily, five days per week, for four weeks. The results showed that patients who received Fu's subcutaneous needling experienced significantly better outcomes than those who received only traditional acupuncture. The combined treatment group had better facial nerve function scores, less pain behind the ear, higher pain tolerance, and faster recovery times. The overall effectiveness rate was 93.3% in the Fu's subcutaneous needling group compared to 73.3% in the standard acupuncture group. This suggests that adding Fu's subcutaneous needling early in treatment may help Bell's palsy patients recover more quickly and completely, especially when postauricular pain is present. The technique appears to be particularly effective at reducing pain and improving nerve function. If you're considering acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis, seek a qualified, licensed acupuncturist who has training in specialized techniques like Fu's subcutaneous needling.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated Fu's subcutaneous needling for postauricular pain in acute idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). Sixty patients completed the study (30 per group) after dropouts and exclusions. Both groups received prednisone and mecobalamin plus conventional acupuncture at BL2, TE23, TE17, GB12 (affected side) and LI4 (contralateral). The intervention group additionally received Fu's subcutaneous needling at 2 cun lateral to GB21 on the affected side. Treatment was delivered once daily, five days weekly for four weeks. The Fu's subcutaneous needling group demonstrated statistically significant improvements over controls in Sunnybrook facial nerve scores, H-B grading, VAS pain scores (all P<0.01), and postauricular pressure pain threshold (P<0.001). Recovery time was significantly shorter and total effectiveness rate was higher (93.3% vs 73.3%, P<0.05). Clinical takeaway: Early integration of Fu's subcutaneous needling with conventional acupuncture significantly enhances facial nerve recovery and pain relief in acute Bell's palsy with postauricular pain.