Acupuncture as an Adjunct Treatment in a Patient with Segmental Myoclonus Secondary to Trauma

Background: Segmental myoclonus is often a debilitating neurologic disorder that can be difficult to treat. To lessen symptoms, many patients are conventionally treated with multiple medications. This often leads to poly pharmacy with sedative medications, which are often difficult for the patient to tolerate. This article describes a case for which acupuncture was used as an adjunct therapy in a patient with segmental myoclonus secondary to trauma. Case: A-76 year-old male presented with segmental myoclonus presumably caused by a fall-related injury. His condition did not improve significantly with conventional interventions, and the medications prescribed to him caused significant-side effects with little benefit. Results: Following a single treatment with acupuncture, this patient's pain was decreased. By the fourth treatment, the patient experienced a decrease in his pain and myoclonus. By the ninth treatment, he reported a 50% reduction in his pain and a 60% reduction in his myoclonus, along with improved functional ability. Conclusions: Acupuncture may be a useful adjunct for treating patients with segmental myoclonus.