206 - We be-lung together! - Acupuncture for Long-Covid Respiratory Symptoms

Case Diagnosis: Benefit of Acupuncture in Long-Covid with Respiratory Symptoms

Case Description:
A 50-year-old male with a PMH of PTSD, mild TBI, hypercholesterolemia and pre-diabetes presented to the rehab pain clinic at the VA. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 21^st 2022. A few weeks after his recovery, he noticed his breathing started to decline. He developed significant shortness of breathe at baseline, even without exertion. Patient was originally prescribed kinesiotherapy with mild improvement in his systems. He was started on Wixela and Albuterol which also provided him minimal relief. Six months after his diagnosis, he started acupuncture at the clinic where he received the treatment of CV 22 (conception vessel) and bilateral lung 6 for 15 minutes. Immediately after the needles were removed, the patient had 80% relief. The full improvement in symptoms lasted him 7-10 days. He has continued this treatment monthly for 1 year and reports no medication to date has treated his dyspnea like acupuncture has.

Discussions:
According to recent statistics, at least 65 million people have long-COVID. Unfortunately the understanding of the mechanism of dyspnea in COVID-19 remain controversial, but there is evidence that acupuncture has aided in symptoms. However, there have been no publications on the specific treatment of CV 22 and bilateral lung 6 for dyspnea. The center needle, CV 22, is placed at the notch in the superior aspect of the suprasternal fossa and has been found to diffuse the lungs.

Conclusions:
Dyspnea following COVID-19 significantly impacts quality of life. The goal of this case report is to demonstrate that a 3 needle, 15 minute technique, provided by a professional, can significantly aid the community suffering from long-covid respiratory symptoms which have been refractory to medications.