How Acupuncture Helps After Surgery
Pain, nausea, stiffness, and sleepless nights are common complaints after surgery. Acupuncture offers a holistic solution that relieves symptoms naturally.
Acupuncture Helps You Manage Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting after surgery can be related to pain medication or the lingering effects of anesthesia. No matter the cause, dealing with nausea and vomiting is one of the more unpleasant aspects of post-surgery recovery. Acupuncture calms the part of the brain that controls vomiting, reduces stomach acid secretion, and has a positive effect on digestion and stomach rhythms.
Acupuncturists treat nausea and vomiting by inserting thin needles in specific areas of the body, including the inner wrist, feet, legs or abdomen. Acupuncture needles are designed for your comfort and are as thin as a strand of human hair. During treatments, your acupuncturist may insert needles into one or more areas of the body.
According to a meta-analysis and systematic review published in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing in 2021, acupuncture reduced the risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting by 48%. Although the meta-analysis examined the effects of acupuncture following gynecologic surgery, acupuncture is just as effective in controlling nausea and vomiting after other types of surgery.
Acupuncture Treatments Reduce Pain
Opioids and other powerful medications are often prescribed to treat post-operative pain. While the drugs are effective, they may cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, or dry mouth. The longer you take opioids, the greater the chance of addiction.
Acupuncture prevents pain signals from reaching the brain and increases the production of endorphins and serotonin, hormones that decrease pain. Adding acupuncture to your post-surgery care plan offers an effective way to reduce your reliance on pain medication.
Acupuncture treatments reduced pain and opioid use in patients who had total knee replacement surgery, according to a research study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' 2021 annual meeting. Sixty-five percent of patients who received acupuncture treatments required no opioids or only a low dose of opioids after surgery.
Immune System Function May Improve with Acupuncture
Surgery stresses your immune system and may slow healing in addition to making it harder to fight off illnesses and infections. Acupuncture increases the production of white cells needed for infection fighting and wound healing.
Treatments Target Inflammation and Swelling
Inflammation and swelling are part of the recovery process after surgery, but can increase pain and discomfort and slow healing. Acupuncture triggers the release of cytokines, proteins that control inflammation and improve circulation. Boosting blood circulation ensures that your body receives nutrients needed for tissue repair. Acupuncture also reduces swelling and eases stiffness.
Treatments increase production of adenosine, a chemical that relieves pain and inflammation and plays an important role in recovery. According to a research study conducted by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers, adenosine increased by 24 times in areas treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture Offers Mental Health Benefits
It's not unusual to feel anxious, depressed, or stressed after surgery. During times of stress, the body increases its production of cortisol. As cortisol floods your body, your blood sugar level, heart rate, and blood pressure rise dramatically. Unfortunately, your body reacts the same way whether you're running from a bear or are concerned about your recovery from surgery.
If your body's cortisol levels don't decline, you're more likely to feel anxious or depressed or develop an upset stomach and muscle aches. Acupuncture treatments decrease cortisol production, reducing stress, anxiety and other symptoms. Your mood and emotional balance will also improve, thanks to the release of hormones that encourage relaxation while relieving pain.
Struggling with Sleep? Acupuncture Can Help
Can't remember the last time you slept through the night? Sleep is necessary for healing, but it can be impossible to sleep well when you're in pain or can't find a comfortable position. In addition to reducing pain and stiffness, acupuncture calms the nervous system and balances melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that helps control your body's sleep/wake cycle.
Are you having surgery soon? Acupuncture offers a safe, effective way to manage post-surgery pain and nausea. Contact our office to schedule your appointment with the acupuncturist.
Sources:
ScienceDirect: Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing: Effectiveness of Acupuncture Therapy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Gynecologic Surgery: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review, 10/2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1089947220303828
American Society of Anesthesiologists: Acupuncture Reduces Pain and Opioid Use for Total Knee Replacement Surgery Patients, 10/10/2021
University of Rochester Medical Center: Acupuncture’s Molecular Effects Pinned Down, 5/30/2020
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/acupunctures-molecular-effects-pinned-down
Medicine: Acupuncture Therapy on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Abdominal Operation, 6/5/20
Acupuncture Today: Wrist Acupuncture Reduces Incidence of Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting, 10/2004