Objective To observe the analgesic effect of thumbtack needling therapy and the quality of life in puerpera underwent cesarean section. Methods One hundred and thirty-five puerpera underwent cesarean section were randomly divided into a medication group

a sham-thumbtack needling group and a thumbtack needling group

45 cases in each group. In the medication group

the patient control analgesia(PCA) was given. In the thumbtack needling group

on the base of the regimen as the medication group

acupuncture with thumbtack needles was applied to lower abdominal point(Extra)

Zusanli(ST36)

Sanyinjiao(SP6)

Geshu(BL17)

Shenshu(BL23) and Dachangshu(BL25). The needles were retained for 48 hours. During the needle retaining

the sites with the needle embedded were pressed and kneaded for 3 times

1 min each time

at the interval of 4 to 12 h. In the sham-thumbtack needling group

the sham-thumbtack needles were used; the acupoint selection

operation and treatment course were all the same as the thumbtack needling group. The visual analogue scale(VAS) scores of incision pain and ute-rine contraction pain

the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions

the amount of vaginal bleeding and milk amount in lactation were observed at each time point after the operation separately in each group. Results Compared with the medication group

the VAS score of incision pain was decreased 8

12 and 24 h after operation(P<0.05)

the VAS score of uterine contraction pain was decreased 8

12

24 and 48 h after operation(P<0.05)

the lactation score was increased in 24 to 48 h after operation(P<0.05) in both the sham-thumbtack needling group and thumbtack needling group. Compared with the sham-thumbtack needling group

the VAS score of incision pain was decreased 8

12 and 24 h after operation(P<0.05)

the VAS score of uterine contraction pain was decreased 24 and 48 h after operation(P<0.05) in the thumbtack needling group. Compared with those from 2 to 24 h after operation

the vaginal bleeding amount was decreased and the lactation score increased from 24 to 48 h after operation(P<0.05) in all of the three groups. Conclusion The conventional PCA combined with thumbtack needling therapy obtained better analgesic effects on incision dynamic pain and uterine contraction pain in patients after cesarean section as compared with either the simple PCA or the combined treatment with sham-thumbtack needling and medication

and both the thumbtack needling and the sham-thumbtack needling therapy can increase the milk amount of lactation from 24 to 48 h after operation.