Acupuncture Lowers Pain & Need for Opioids after Surgery

Acupuncture Treatment Reduces Pain & Helps Eliminate The Need For Pain Killers After Surgery

This is great news for acupuncture enthusiasts! A series of clinical trials done at the Duke University Medical Center shows that using acupuncture before and after surgery has a significant effect on reducing the level of pain experienced by the patients. In addition, post surgery, the trials showed that the need for potent pain killing medications was reduced noticeably.

The state of Oregon is one that has taken notice. In the past, the Oregon Health Plan’s primary way of managing back pain involved bed rest and narcotic pain medications. The narcotics were traditionally covered in most cases. Alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and chiropractic therapy, have not been covered.

Now, starting in January 2016, the state of Oregon will fund many of these alternative back pain treatments. The objective is to get a head start on the back problem when it develops, stop pain from becoming overbearing and chronic, and reduce the need for addicting opioid medications. It is recognized that a lot of money is spent on traditional health care procedures and services that really don’t improve the overall outcome for patients.

Given the potential for addiction to opioids, it is hoped that alternative treatments will improve the big picture by substantially reducing the number of people who become addicts (and in turn may eventually require treatment for that).

Watch this video – good information! Please share if you like it.