Successful Administration of Kampo Medicine and Acupuncture Treatment to Improve Erythromelalgia: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT

Erythromelalgia is a rare disease characterized by a triad of recurrent burning pain, redness with pain, and hot flashes in the legs during attacks. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who suffered from refractory erythromelalgia for 15 years and was successfully managed with Kampo medicine and acupuncture. Her pain was refractory to seven types of oral medications and intravenous lidocaine injections. Byakkokaninjinto was also administered for concomitant polydipsia in addition to acupuncture, unseiin, orengedokuto, and sokeikakketsuto. Because erythromelalgia has no established treatment, traditional Kampo medicine combined with acupuncture may help improve the quality of life of affected patients.