Recovering from surgery can be a complex journey, and acupuncture offers a gentle and effective way to support healing. Whether you’re dealing with post-surgical pain, nerve sensitivity, or the emotional toll of recovery, acupuncture can be a valuable part of your rehabilitation. However, it's common to have questions or concerns about what to expect from acupuncture treatments after surgery, especially if you’re new to it. Here’s a breakdown of what happens when you begin acupuncture post-surgery and why certain responses may occur.
1. Immediate Effects: Pain Relief or Temporary Discomfort?
After your first acupuncture session, you might notice a couple of different things happening. Some people feel an immediate sense of relief — their pain eases, and they feel more relaxed. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers) and helps regulate the nervous system, which often leads to a calming effect.
However, for some, the first session might bring a temporary increase in pain or discomfort. This isn’t something to worry about; in fact, it’s quite normal and often short-lived. Here’s why this happens:
Healing response: Acupuncture boosts blood circulation and energy flow, which can cause your body to "wake up" areas of tension or stagnation. This might briefly intensify pain before things start to improve.
Nervous system recalibration: Post-surgical patients, especially those dealing with nerve-related pain or sensitivity, may experience heightened sensations as acupuncture helps restore normal nerve function.
If you do feel sore after your first session, it’s typically mild and should pass within a day or two.
2. Short-Term Benefits: Pain Relief and Reduced Inflammation
Within the first few sessions, acupuncture usually starts to show more noticeable benefits:
Pain relief: Acupuncture is particularly effective at managing pain, whether it’s localised discomfort from the surgical area or nerve pain. Regular sessions help calm the nervous system and reduce the intensity of pain signals.
Reduction in swelling and inflammation: Surgery often leaves areas swollen or inflamed. Acupuncture improves circulation, which helps reduce these symptoms, speeding up recovery.
Many patients find that their pain decreases after the first 3–5 treatments. For nerve pain or complex surgeries, this might take a bit longer, but steady progress is a positive sign.
3. Long-Term Benefits: Healing and Mobility
After several weeks of acupuncture, more significant changes start to happen:
Improved mobility: Acupuncture helps improve the range of motion and decrease stiffness, especially when combined with exercises or physical therapy. This is important for regaining normal function in the surgical area.
Scar tissue management: As your body heals, acupuncture can support the breakdown of scar tissue, promoting better healing and flexibility in the area.
Emotional balance: Surgery can be stressful, and anxiety or depression may follow. Acupuncture’s ability to balance emotions is one of its strengths, helping you feel calmer and more centered as you heal.
4. Why Acupuncture Might Cause Temporary Discomfort
It’s not uncommon for some patients to experience mild side effects after their first acupuncture session. Here are the main reasons why:
The body is adjusting: Acupuncture is working to bring the body back into balance. This process sometimes involves releasing blockages, which can feel uncomfortable at first.
Increased awareness of pain: Acupuncture often makes you more aware of sensations in your body. Sometimes, the areas of pain or tension become more noticeable before they start to improve.
If you’ve had a major surgery, like back surgery or joint replacement, you may need to be more cautious with acupuncture. Your practitioner will use gentler techniques, fewer needles, and possibly avoid areas directly affected by the surgery in the early stages of treatment.
5. How Acupuncture Helps You Heal
Acupuncture is not just about managing symptoms — it promotes whole-body healing. Here’s how it works after surgery:
Improves circulation: This helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, speeding up the healing process.
Reduces inflammation: Inflammation is a natural part of healing but can become excessive. Acupuncture helps control this, ensuring that the healing process stays on track.
Modulates the nervous system: It helps restore balance to the nervous system, especially important for those with post-surgical nerve pain or heightened sensitivity.
Calms the mind: Acupuncture works on both the physical and emotional levels, reducing stress and anxiety, which can interfere with healing.
6. What You Can Do After Treatment
To get the most out of your acupuncture treatment after surgery:
Stay hydrated: Drinking water helps flush out toxins released during acupuncture.
Rest: Give your body time to adjust after a session. If you’re feeling sore or tired, that’s a sign your body is responding to the treatment.
Communicate with your acupuncturist: Let your practitioner know how you’re feeling after each session. If the pain increases or you feel worse, they can adjust your treatment plan to better suit your body’s needs.
Acupuncture is a powerful tool for recovery, but it's important to have a clear understanding of the process. Whether you experience immediate relief or temporary discomfort, remember that acupuncture works by guiding your body back into balance. Patience and consistency are key to seeing long-term benefits in your post-surgical healing journey.
Take care of yourself!
Violaine
References:
Kwon S, Jin C, Jeong A, Yang SB. Effects of acupuncture on postoperative recovery and extubation time: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29;100(4):e24502. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024502. PMID: 33530274; PMCID: PMC7850765.
Cho YH, Kim CK, Heo KH, Lee MS, Ha IH, Son DW, Choi BK, Song GS, Shin BC. Acupuncture for acute postoperative pain after back surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pain Pract. 2015 Mar;15(3):279-91. doi: 10.1111/papr.12208. Epub 2014 Apr 28. PMID: 24766648; PMCID: PMC4409074.
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