Electroacupuncture treatment of acute low back pain: unlikely to be a placebo response.

CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 65-year-old retired Caucasian woman with good general health. In mid-March 2014 she had had a sudden onset of pain over the right lower back. She denied any history of trauma. Initially the pain was subtle, with severity scored at 2/ 10, diffuse, constant, aching in nature and not radiating. In the next 7 days, the pain had become moderate-to-severe. It was improved by rest to 5/10, but worsened to 7/10 with leaning forward. She did not have any history of LBP, mechanical trauma or bone fracture. She was not taking any anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers. She looked generally unwell and was obviously in pain. She was overweight. Palpation of the vertebrae and paravertebral muscles below the level of T12 did not induce the pain. The pain was exacerbated when she was asked to flex her hip and laterally rotate her right lower limb. Flexion of the hip caused more pain than other movements. It was located at about 1.5– 4.0 cm right lateral to L2 to L4.