I was excited to find an article from the Journal of American Society of Anestheiologists regarding reduction of postoperative pain for both upper and lower abdominal surgeries. The study showed a reduction in incisional and visceral pain, reduced analgesic requirements, and diminished incident of postoperative nausea and vomiting. There was also a reduction in pain-induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system that normally accompanies surgery.
I can personally relate to what patients go through from being a patient myself. To this day I remember the taste of the anesthetic Ether, waking up nauseated and enduring pain once the anesthetic wore off.
Today with advancements made in the field of anesthesia, both post-op pain and nausea are better managed but not completely resolved. As both a registered nurse in preoperative care and an acupuncturist I can help people decrease the effects associated with surgeries. If you are having surgery I invite you to talk to your surgeon regarding acupuncture treatments. My suggestion would be to have an appointment the day before surgery and a couple days post surgery. Of course this depends on the type of surgery and the overall outcome.
I encourage you to read the article and take a copy to your surgeon : Anesthesiology: August 2001-Volume 95-Issue 2- pp 349-356.
