Pain
Hani Abdel-Rahman, DO
Resident Physician
Stony Brook University Hospital
Winchester, Massachusetts, United States
Omar Alsheikh, DO, MPH
PM&R Resident
UConnHealth
Farmington, Connecticut, United States
Shyam Maisuria, BS
Medical Student
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hamden, Connecticut, United States
Anthony J. Guccione, III, BA
Research Associate / Medical Student
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Centereach, New York, United States
Brandon Khanyan, MD
Medical Student
Stony Brook University Medical School
Great Neck, New York, United States
Hannah M. Fischer, DO
PM&R PGY-2 Resident
Stony Brook
Hicksville, New York, United States
Hani Abdel-Rahman, DO
Resident Physician
Stony Brook University Hospital
Winchester, Massachusetts, United States
Chronic low back pain secondary to Grade I spondylolisthesis and lumbar radiculopathy.
Case Description:
A 62-year-old male with a 20-year history of low back pain presented with worsening axial lumbosacral pain (VAS 7–10/10), sleep disturbance, and crouched gait, exacerbated by lumbar extension and activity. Imaging revealed L5/S1 Grade I anterolisthesis with bilateral pars defects and multilevel degenerative disc disease. Previous therapies, including chiropractic manipulation and epidural injections, offered limited relief. The patient began a 6-month multimodal program incorporating biweekly acupuncture targeting Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) points (e.g., UB-23, UB-54, Du-4) with electrostimulation and heat therapy. Physical therapy focused on core strengthening, hamstring stretching, and gait retraining. After 6 months, he experienced reduced pain (VAS 7–10/10 to 2–4/10), improved gait, lumbar range of motion, and sleep quality, ultimately resuming daily activities with minimal restrictions.
Discussions:
This case highlights acupuncture as a safe, effective adjunct for managing chronic low back pain associated with low-grade spondylolisthesis. In TCM, low back pain is attributed to imbalances such as Kidney Yang deficiency and Qi stagnation. Acupuncture targeted these imbalances while complementing PM&R-based physical rehabilitation. This patient’s pain relief and functional improvement in gait, lumbar mobility, and overall quality of life demonstrate the potential of integrating acupuncture into a multidisciplinary rehabilitation plan.
Conclusions:
Integrating TCM-based acupuncture with physical therapy provided meaningful functional gains and pain reduction in a patient with refractory low back pain from Grade I spondylolisthesis. This case underscores the value of multidisciplinary, non-surgical strategies in chronic pain management. Further research is warranted to validate outcomes and guide treatment protocols.
