Intervention

Patients will be administered 12 sessions of free EA treatment during the study period. The treatment will start on the day the patients are randomised. Dongbang disposable stainless steel needles (0.3×75 mm and 0.25×15 mm, Suzhou Dongbang Medical Equipment Co, Suzhou, China) and a Yingdi electric stimulator (Changzhou Yingdi Electronic Medical Device Co, Changzhou, China) will be used. The selection of acupoints will be made as per the clinical experience and specialist consensus. In case of radicular pain, bilateral Dachangshu (BL25), Guanyuanshu (BL26), and L3–L5 Jiaji (Ex-B2), Weizhong (BL40) and Chengshan (BL57) will be used. Patients will be administered 12 sessions of EA (three times a week for 4 weeks) and each session will last 20 min. Patients in the deep EA group will be administered EA at the acupoints in the prone position bilaterally using 0.3×75 needles. The needles will be inserted slowly and vertically to a depth of 35–70 mm as per the patient’s figure to achieve deqi sensation; it is preferable if the sensation radiates down to the lower limb. After the needles are inserted, paired clips of electric stimulator will be attached transversely to the bilateral Dachangshu (BL25) and Guanyuanshu (BL26). A 5-Hz continuous wave will be used, and the current strength will be adjusted as per the patient’s tolerance. Patients in the shallow EA group will be administered acupuncture treatment using the 0.25×15 mm needles that will be inserted slowly and vertically approximately 2–5 mm at the same acupoints with no deqi sensation. An electric stimulator will be connected using the same method as used in the deep EA group.

Patients are allowed to take analgesics when their pain becomes unbearable. Any analgesics that are used will be recorded in the case report form (CRF).