Stimulated by Gyeltshen et al 2025.[1] Photo by Pema Gyamtsho on Pexels.com IF – impact factorEiC – editor in chiefSLR – straight leg raising (the most famous test for sciatica, but not a terribly good one) – key to acronyms This is a somewhat smaller trial (n=70) than the last one I highlighted on sciatic … Continue reading Acupuncture vs gabapentin for sciatica in Bhutan
Stimulated by Shi et al 2025.[1] Diagram illustrating the acupuncture protocol from Shi et al 2025 [1] – unilateral points are in the unaffected side. LDH – lumbar disc herniationRCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue scaleJOA – Japanese Orthopaedic Association score for low back painSIJ – sacroiliac jointSR – systematic reviewGRADE – Grading … Continue reading Acupuncture plus manipulation in LDH
Stimulated by Jorgensen et al 2024.[1] This is a section from the BMAS TrP chart with referral patterns relevant to the topic of this blog. MSK – musculoskeletalLS – lumbosacralIF – impact factorEDX – electrodiagnostic medicineNCS – nerve conduction studiesMPS – myofascial pain syndromeFAI – femoroacetabular impingementTrPs – trigger points (myofascial is implied)GTPS – greater trochanteric … Continue reading MSK mimics of LS radiculopathy – part 2
Inspired by Tu et al 2024.[1] IF – impact factorBUCM – Beijing University of Chinese MedicineRCT – randomised controlled trialVAS – visual analogue scoreODI – Oswestry Disability IndexMCID – minimum important clinical difference – key to acronyms A general internal medicine physician colleague from UCLH picked up this paper from JAMA Internal Medicine (IF 39.0) … Continue reading Acupuncture for chronic sciatica 2024
Stimulated by Zhu et al 2024.[1] DLSS – degenerative lumbar spinal stenosisIF – impact factorRCT – randomised controlled trialNRS – numerical rating scaleRMDQ – Roland Morris disability questionnaireMCID – minimum clinical important differenceSSSQ – Swiss spinal stenosis questionnaire – key to acronyms This paper in Annals of Internal Medicine (IF 39.2) reports on a multi-centre … Continue reading Acupuncture for DLSS
Stimulated by Bateman et al 2024.[1] This is a section from the BMAS TrP chart with referral patterns relevant to the topic of this blog. MSK – musculoskeletalLS – lumbosacralIF – impact factorLBP – low back painDRG – dorsal root ganglionNCS – nerve conduction studiesEMG – electromyographyOA – osteoarthritisFAI – femoroacetabular impingementQL – quadratus lumborumICT … Continue reading MSK mimics of LS radiculopathy
Stimulated by Albert et al 2023.[1] Photo by Neonbrand on Unsplash. PID – prolapsed intervertebral discLBP – low back painNSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsSD – standard deviation key to acronyms This paper was published online in mid-December, but I could not access the full text. I wrote to the first author, Hanne Albert, and she kindly sent me … Continue reading PID resorption 2024
Stimulated by Jeong et al,[1] and Huang et al.[2] Screengrab from Day 19 of ‘What’s the point’. I am highlighting 2 papers. The first listed above is most recent and raises some interesting points, but the second paper, which is from last year, is more important from my perspective. I reviewed the latter for the … Continue reading Sciatica 2020
In regret triggered by the title of Probst et al 2019.[1] This diagram illustrates the anatomical location of piriformis relative to the pelvis, and the characteristic pain referral patterns that form part of the myofascial syndrome. The blue dots on the leg represent tingling that might occur if there is nerve entrapment in piriformis syndrome. … Continue reading Piriformis revisited
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