Actively Recruiting
Ear Pressure Points Plus Pain Meds for Faster Kidney Stone Pain Relief
Led by Gao Xiaofeng · Updated on 2026-03-18
116
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
78 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Title: Can Ear Acupressure Help Relieve Kidney Stone Pain Faster When Combined with Painkillers? Purpose: This study tests whether adding ear acupressure to standard painkillers (NSAIDs) helps adults with kidney stone pain feel better faster. The investigators also want to know if this combination causes any side effects. Key Questions: Does ear acupressure + NSAIDs reduce pain more quickly than NSAIDs alone? Are there any safety concerns with this treatment? How does real ear acupressure compare to a fake (placebo) procedure? Who Can Join? Adults aged 18-75 Experiencing moderate-to-severe kidney stone pain (confirmed by CT or ultrasound) No recent painkiller use or allergies to NSAIDs What Participants Will Do: Receive in the emergency room: Real treatment: Tiny needles placed on 3 ear points + NSAIDs (ketorolac injection) OR Placebo treatment: Fake tape on ear points + NSAIDs (same injection) Rate their pain on a 0-10 scale over 60 minutes. Have their heart rate and blood pressure checked. Study Details: Duration: Single ER visit (no long-term follow-up) Participants Needed: 116 Safety: Rescue pain medication (like morphine) is available if needed. Why This Matters: Kidney stones cause severe pain, and current painkillers may not work fast enough. Ear acupressure is a low-risk method from traditional Chinese medicine that could provide quicker relief. Ethics: Approved by Changhai Hospital's Ethics Committee. Participants can leave the study anytime.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Ear Pressure Points Plus Pain Meds for Faster Kidney Stone Pain Relief
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 15 and 75 years (inclusive)
- Diagnosis of urinary tract stones confirmed by CT or ultrasound
- Moderate to severe kidney stone pain with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 4 or higher
- No severe heart, liver, or lung dysfunction and no blood clotting disorders
- No psychiatric disorders
You will not qualify if you...
- Use of any painkillers within the past 6 hours
- Allergy to NSAIDs, morphine, or anisodamine (scopolamine derivatives)
- History of asthma, hives, heart failure, recent heart attack, stroke, or increased pressure in the skull
- Active stomach ulcers, pyloric or intestinal blockage
- Severe past reactions to acupuncture
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Unwillingness to sign informed consent
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
shanghai Changhai Hospitai
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200433
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Bowen Yu, bachelor
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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