Massage Eases Post-Surgery Pain: Study
Monday January 21, 2008
A new study published in the Archives of Surgery has found that massage can help to relieve pain after surgery and may complement the use of pain-relieving drugs. In the study, 605 men had major surgery and 200 of them received daily 20-minute back massages for four days after the surgery. All participants received comparable doses of pain-relieving drugs such as morphine. People who had massage had a faster reduction in pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to those who didn't.
For people who have just had surgery, cancer patients and anyone with chronic pain, medication isn't always enough and there may be concerns about side effects. What this study suggests is that non-drug methods, like massage therapy, have an important role to play in pain control. Other non-traditional methods include music and relaxation therapies.
Related Articles: Source: Mitchinson AR, Kim HM, et al. Acute postoperative pain management using massage as an adjuvant therapy: a randomized trial. Arch Surg. (2007) 142.12:1158-67.
For people who have just had surgery, cancer patients and anyone with chronic pain, medication isn't always enough and there may be concerns about side effects. What this study suggests is that non-drug methods, like massage therapy, have an important role to play in pain control. Other non-traditional methods include music and relaxation therapies.
Related Articles: Source: Mitchinson AR, Kim HM, et al. Acute postoperative pain management using massage as an adjuvant therapy: a randomized trial. Arch Surg. (2007) 142.12:1158-67.
Comments
Massage after surgery is a great way to help relieve the pain and also lower the stress level. Another very helpful alternative is Hypnosis.
With Hypnosis, a person can relieve some of their fears and anxieties BEFORE the surgery. This will help them be less stressed and more receptive to the procedure.
It can also lower their expectations of pain and discomfort with suggestions of rapid healing, confidence in the medical staff, the patient’s loving family and friends, and the patient’s own natural healing ability of their body and mind.
William C. Smith, Board Certified Hypnotist - www.hypnosisrc.com
Thanks for this. It would be so much better if hospitals gave massages a try instead of heavy meds. I’ve been looking around for more info about this and I found this cool web page (site) that everyone might be interested in as well. It’s really neat actually. It gives the effectiveness of different alternative remedies according to scientific trial info. It also has articles, news, blogs etc. but I really dig the grading system they’ve got going. Here it is:
http://www.rvita.com