Freedom from Pain! A New Savior for Herniated Discs: The Amazing Effects of Needle Knife Therapy

It's hard to continue working while sitting. Pain shoots through my legs when I walk. If there's any way to alleviate this, I'd like to try it.

For those suffering from symptoms of lumbar disc herniation, new treatment research is urgent news. The German news site "AD HOC NEWS" introduced a study on China's "needle-knife therapy," which reportedly improved pain and physical function indicators more than conventional acupuncture.

However, there's a gap between "better results than the compared treatment" and "a treatment recommended for everyone." This study also needs to be read by distinguishing between promising aspects and those still unknown.

Is "needle-knife therapy" the same as ordinary acupuncture?

Needle-knife therapy, known in English as "needle-knife therapy" or "acupotomy," is a method that uses needle-like instruments to work on soft tissues and should not be treated as the same as general acupuncture.

In 2020, a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing needle-knife and conventional acupuncture for back and leg pain associated with lumbar disc herniation was also published. This is not a suddenly emerged treatment but a field that has been under scrutiny for some time.

It's important to note that even though the treatment name includes "knife," it does not mean the same as disc herniation removal surgery. Confusing "intervention for pain" with "treatment for the protruding disc itself" may lead to expectations beyond what the research has shown.

What was discovered in a study comparing 74 people?

In the study, 74 patients with lumbar disc herniation were randomly assigned to two groups: needle-knife therapy and conventional acupuncture. The evaluators were blinded to which treatment the patients received.

According to the original paper, 70 people completed two weeks of treatment and a follow-up after three months. The average values after treatment were as follows, with lower numbers indicating better conditions.

Statistically significant favorable results for the needle-knife group were reported in both pain and disability. The difference remained after three months, although it was smaller than immediately after treatment.

The figures "VAS 2.16 vs. 3.34" and "ODI 12.32 vs. 21.44" published in the original article do not match the text and tables of the original paper confirmed this time. The explanation "the follow-up period was only two weeks" is also different. This article adopted the description of the original paper.

A difference in numbers does not necessarily translate to a "significant difference in experience"

When reading treatment research, it's important to distinguish between "statistically significant differences" and "sufficiently large improvements for the patient."

For example, if the pain decreases slightly but you still can't sit for long periods, returning to work might be difficult. On the other hand, even if the pain doesn't completely disappear, being able to sleep at night could be a significant change for the person.

When looking at the results this time, it's important to know not only the superiority of the average values but also how many people experienced meaningful improvements in daily life and how long those improvements lasted.

Also, this trial directly compared needle-knife therapy and conventional acupuncture. It did not show superiority over all options like drug therapy, exercise therapy, nerve blocks, or surgery.

The headline "better than acupuncture" cannot be reinterpreted as "the best among current treatments."

Even if inflammation markers decrease, it doesn't mean "the hernia is cured"

The original article also introduced markers related to inflammation in the blood. Of the three examined, IL-6 showed a significant difference between groups, but IL-1β and TNF-α did not.

Such test values provide clues to consider the mechanism of treatment. However, changes in numbers alone cannot determine "inflammation was proven to be the cause" or "nerve compression was relieved."

Similarly, from the result that the pain has eased, it cannot be said that the protruding disc has returned to its original position. Improvement of symptoms, changes in imaging, prevention of recurrence, and whether surgery can be avoided are separate questions.

To properly evaluate the potential of treatment, it is important not to summarize these into a single word "effective."

"No serious side effects" is not the final conclusion on safety

In this report, no serious adverse events were confirmed, and temporary local pain and bruising were introduced.

This is one piece of reassurance. However, the fact that no serious problems occurred in a study of several dozen people is not the same as thoroughly investigating rare complications.

Attention should also be paid to the fact that the study was conducted at a single facility. Questions remain about whether the same results can be obtained at other facilities and whether there is no difference due to the practitioner's experience when used widely.

Furthermore, patients and practitioners knew the treatment content. In indicators that evaluate personal sensations like pain, expectations for the treatment could potentially influence the results.

These are not criticisms to deny the research. Precisely because the results are promising, there is value in confirming them with larger trials and longer follow-ups.

On social media, there are voices of both "it got better" and "it wasn't enough"

There were not enough verifiable social media reactions to this paper itself. Therefore, as a related topic, let's look at acupuncture experiences in the sciatica community on the overseas forum Reddit.

One post reported that pain significantly eased after receiving acupuncture and cupping on the lower back. On the other hand, comments asked, "Did it get better with one session, or was it a temporary effect?"

In another thread, it was written that acupuncture helped to some extent but was not sufficient, and surgery was ultimately performed.

These are not evaluations of the current needle-knife therapy but personal experiences with conventional acupuncture. Since the diagnosis, combined treatments, and duration of symptoms are not consistent, collecting posts does not prove treatment effectiveness.

Still, it conveys what patients want to know: "Does it really get better?" "Does the effect last?" "What to do next if there is no improvement?" When conveying research results, how much these questions can be answered is crucial.

If considering in Japan, first ask, "Is this treatment suitable for my symptoms?"

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association explains that lumbar disc herniation can cause pain in the lower back and buttocks, pain and numbness spreading to the legs, and muscle weakness.

In treatment, conservative treatment is performed according to the symptoms, and surgery is considered if improvement is not obtained or depending on neurological symptoms. When reading news about new treatments, the starting point is to make a judgment based on the current diagnosis and neurological condition.

When consulting with your doctor, instead of just asking, "Does this method work?" it is easier to proceed with the conversation by specifying as follows:

• What is considered the cause of the current pain and numbness?
• How similar is my condition to the patients in this study?
• What are the expected improvements and unknown risks?
• If there is no improvement, when will the treatment plan be reviewed?

Especially changes such as difficulty putting strength in the legs and abnormalities in urination are not reasons to try new procedures while observing. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association also calls for prompt consultation for back pain accompanied by such symptoms.

Connecting expectations for new options to sound judgment

This study showed reasons to further investigate needle-knife therapy for pain and disability associated with lumbar disc herniation.

However, since the difference remained after three months, it cannot be said that the effect will last for years. Since the results were better than conventional acupuncture, it cannot be said to be an alternative for those who need surgery.

What matters to patients is not the novelty of the treatment name but the extent to which their lives are expected to improve and what burdens and risks they will take on for that.

To connect new research to hope, it is important to confirm "what is known" as well as "what is still unknown."

Sources and Reference URLs

1. AD HOC NEWS:The figures and follow-up period after treatment differ from the original paper below.
   https://www.ad-hoc-news.de/wissenschaft/bandscheibenvorfall-nadel-messer-therapie-senkt-schmerzwerte-staerker-als-akupunktur/70352090

2. Frontiers in Neurology: Original paper of the current randomized controlled trial
   Confirmed study design, post-treatment VAS and ODI, 3-month follow-up, and blinding limitations. Figures from the text and Table 3 were adopted.
   https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1898714/fullfrontiersin.org

3. 2020 Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial: Comparison of Needle-Knife and Conventional Acupuncture
   Reference material for understanding that needle-knife therapy has been a subject of clinical research and its treatment concept.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7131997/PMC

4. Japanese Orthopaedic Association: "Lumbar Disc Herniation"
   For Japanese readers, confirming the basic concept of symptoms and treatment.
   https://www.joa.or.jp/public/sick/condition/lumbar_disc_herniation.htmljoa.or.jp

5. Japanese Orthopaedic Association: "Low Back Pain"
   Explanation of symptoms requiring prompt consultation, such as muscle weakness and urinary abnormalities.
   https://www.joa.or.jp/public/sick/condition/lumbago.htmljoa.or.jp

6. Reddit: "Acupuncture relieved my Sciatica!"
   Summary of personal experience reporting improvement after acupuncture and cupping, and reactions questioning the duration of effects.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/Sciatica/comments/1bsoxfa/acupuncture_relieved_my_sciatica/reddit.com

7. Reddit: "Acupuncture for relief?"
   Summary of personal experience where acupuncture provided some help but was not enough, leading to surgery.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/Sciatica/comments/1p5v37w/acupuncture_for_relief/