- by Theresa Klepper
Surgery can be an intimidating and, often times, terrifying process to experience. Pain results from being cut open in any way, yet the real pain begins upon waking. To deal with this pain, post-operative patients are given much attention from nurses and doctors as well as a lot of pain medicine.
What if there is more we can do to help decrease the pain and the pain medication? What if there is another way to ease the pain while at the same time helping the body to heal itself?
Dr. Schweta Choudary PhD, Dr. Guresh Kumar, and Dr. Kulwant Singh performed a research experiment on post operative patients. These doctors wanted to measure how reflexology may affect the pain levels of those recovering from surgery. Their theory was that post-operative pain is caused by cutting of the pain fibers or irritation of the pain nerve endings. Therefore, performing an action that speaks directly to the Central Nervous System, calming and telling it to balance itself out would in fact ease the pain. They were right in their theory.
The research study consisted of 60 patients who had undergone general surgery. These patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (12 Males and 20 Females) received the standard quantity of the standard drugs as well as reflexology sessions. Group 2 (12 Males and 16 Females) received the standard quantity of the standard drugs. The standard drugs were Opioids as well as NSAID (Diclofenac).
The pain of both groups was measured using a visual analog scale from 0-10.
In Group 1, the pain was measured using a time scale of 0, 2, 6, and 24 hours plus 20 minutes prior to each interval hour. Group 1 received a reflexology session 20 minutes prior to each time interval so that they're pain was measured before and after receiving a reflexology treatment. The reflexology treatment consisted of a 15-20 minute session targeting the area where surgery was performed as well as pain areas.
In Group 2, the pain scale was measured at 0, 2, 6, and 24 hour intervals only.
The result was that Group 1 showed significant decrease in pain as well as decrease in the required quantity of pain killers as compared to Group 2.
From the results, we can gather that regular reflexology treatments ease pain greatly. Not only can the treatments ease pain, they can also substitute as a pain killer as we can see with the decrease of pain medicine.
Reflexology is easy to do to yourself and can be applied for years after undergoing any surgery. If you're looking for something to use for years to come to ease your pain in a holistic body/immune/nervous system strengthening way - reflexology is your answer!
