Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of the neck-shoulder relieving pills combined with the needle knife in improving cervical vertebrae function and relieving pain of patients with cold dampness type cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods Forty -six cases with cold dampness type cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 23) and control group (n = 23). The control group had needle knife therapy of neck soft tissue and treatment of Jingfukang granules for 1 month. The experimental group receive the same needle knife therapy of neck soft tissue and the neck-shoulder relieving pill treatment for 1 month. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after treatment, cervical radicular disability index (NDI) and life quality (SF-36) scores before and after treatment and the incidence rate of adverse reactions of the two groups were compared. Results Compared with the control group, the neck pain VAS score after treatment for 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month, the neck tenderness VAS score, the upper extremity radicular pain VAS score and NDI of the experimental group were decreased; however, the SF-36 life quality scores of the experimental group in the same period were increased (p < 0.05). Compared with pretreatment, the neck pain VAS score after treatment for 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month, the neck pressure pain VAS score, the upper extremity radicular pain VAS score and NDI of the experimental group were decreased; however, the SF -36 life quality scores of the experimental group in the same period were increased; pain scores after treatment for 2 weeks and 1 month and NDI of the control group were decreased; however, the SF-36 life quality scores in the same period were increased (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidences of adverse reactions between the experimental group and the control group (p >0.05). Conclusions The neck-shoulder relieving pills combined with the needle knife is feasible and safe for treatment of the patients with cold dampness type cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, and it is worthy of clinical application.