ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF PAINFUL NEURO- 348 Po PATHIES. M.Martelete 1 and A.M.C.Fiori2*,Department Friday of Anesthesiology t and Department of Biophysics 2, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Aim of Investigation: This study evaluates the effects of classical acupuncture in the treatment of painful neuropathies.

Methods: Thirty patients with different types of painful neuropathies were treated by acupuncture according to the cla[ sical chinese theory. The patients were grouped under age,sex, pathology, pain level, duration and area of pain. The number of acupuncture sessions, the degree and duration of relief were considered.

Results: All groups showed important reduction in the pain level and often in the pain area, independently of the crite- ria used for group formation. Considering the groups,the best results were found in older patients, diabetic and traumatic pathologies and inferior areas of pain. The degree and dura- tion of relief were proportional to the number of acupuncture sessions. When areas of hypoesthesia coexisted with areas of pain, it was found some recover of the sensibility associated with the pain relief.

Conclusions: Acupuncture was effective in the treatment of palnful neuropathies. The relief of pain, longer than the known analgesic effect of acupuncture, the reduction in the area of pain and the improvement of sensibility in hypoesthetic areas suggest other mechanisms of action rather than simple analgesic effect.

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