A dull, throbbing pain on the outside of the left lower limb appears after walking for 5 minutes.
Doctor's diagnosis: Orthopedics suggests intervertebral disc degeneration.
symptom
A woman in her 60s.
A year ago, during a table tennis lesson, I practiced hitting 100 balls while twisting my body. Immediately afterward, I started experiencing pain in my left leg, and the next day I was in a state where I could barely walk.
The pain spread from the outer side of the left thigh down to the calf and the outside of the foot. It was characterized by a dull, heavy ache that felt like it was pressing down on a broad area, and the symptoms would worsen after about 5 minutes of walking.
At the orthopedic clinic, I was suspected of having intervertebral disc degeneration and prescribed Loxonin and Tarlige. However, I did not see any clear improvement even after taking the medication.
Furthermore, she had a history of breast cancer, and there was a possibility of osteoporosis due to the effects of hormone therapy after surgery.
During the initial palpation, a planar tenderness was observed along the lateral line of the left lower limb.
At the time of her initial visit, the severe pain that had significantly interfered with her daily life had subsided, but she still harbored anxiety that the intense pain she had experienced at the beginning of her illness might recur. Because of this, she was unable to decide to return to ballroom dancing, which she had temporarily stopped.
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Visitors
Female
60's
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Period
February 2026 - March 2026
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Visit Frequency per week
1
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Number of Visits
5
Treatment and progress
During the initial treatment, the patient received treatment on a pressure point in the lower back (around L4). After the treatment, although some discomfort remained the following day, the pain that the patient had felt at the initial consultation had decreased.
From the second session onward, in addition to the treatment performed in the first session, acupressure points on the toes (Chongyang) and hands (Sixin) were added. With each treatment, the symptoms gradually improved, and after the fourth session, the patient had recovered to the point where they were able to walk 8000 steps while going out and enjoying leisure activities.
After a total of five treatment sessions, the symptoms improved significantly, and there was no relapse during the treatment period. The improvement was gradual but steady. The patient was able to carry out daily activities from the beginning of their visit, but with repeated treatments, their anxiety while walking also decreased, and we could sense their desire to return to ballroom dancing in our conversations.
Acupressure points used
Symptom score
Functional score
Summary
After five sessions of treatment targeting pressure points in the lower back, toes, and hands, the patient experienced significant improvement in pain in their left lower limb following a table tennis lesson.
The patient was diagnosed with suspected herniated disc at an orthopedic clinic, and drug therapy did not show significant improvement. However, acupuncture treatment reduced pain during walking, making it possible to walk 8000 steps. Gradual improvement was observed with each treatment, and there was no relapse, resulting in a favorable outcome.
Along with the improvement of symptoms, the patient's anxiety about the recurrence of the previous severe pain also decreased, and the psychological barrier to returning to ballroom dancing was removed. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic lower limb pain and suggests that physical improvement can also lead to a reduction in psychological anxiety.
