Pattern Full

Painful Obstruction

Tòng Bì 痛痹

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

Diagnostic Signs

Tongue

Pale tongue with thin white coating

Pulse

Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)

Key Characteristic Symptoms

Lumbar pain Shoulder pain Knee pain Elbow pain Ankle pain Joint pain Wrist pain Joint stiff Lumbar spine stiffness Shoulder stiffness Knee stiffness Elbow stiffness Stiff ankle Stiff wrist Muscle pain Swollen joints Numbness in the muscles Stiff neck Tenosynovitis Tendonitis wrist De quervain's tenosynovitis

Diagnostic Considerations

Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the intense joints and muscles pain and stiffness. It can happen in lumbar, shoulders, knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, neck and etc.

Causes & Pathology

Common Causes

Pathological Mechanism

Painful Obstruction Syndrome is also called Bi Symdrome (Bi Zheng). 'Bi' means Stagnation or blockage in Chinese. It occurs mainly due to Exterior Pernicious Factors invasion such as Wind, Cold, Dampness or Heat.

There are four types of Painful Obstruction Syndrome patterns according to the original causes.

1. Cold invading the Channels joints and muscles

2. Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles

3. Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles

4. Dampness invading the Channels joints and muscles

Treatment Approach

Treatment Principle

Herbal treatment to expel Exterior Pernicious Factors.

Acupuncture and  moxibustion

Recommended Herbal Formulas

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