To investigate the clinical effects of acupuncture after surgical operation in patients with prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disc ,Chinese Medical college of Xi 'an Jiaotong University (My hometown)has done a research about this treatment.
The one group was treated by acupuncture and conventional rehabilitation therapy, and the another group only by the rehabilitation therapy. The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the scoring system stipulated by Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA).
Their conclusion is acupuncture can confirmatively promote the functional recovery for'patients with prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disc after surgical removal of nucleus pulposus and with intervertebral fusion.
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Reference:J Tradit Chin Med. 2008 Dec;28(4):250-4.
Acupuncture can also be very helpful in the healing and reintegration of post surgical scars which can help reduce chronic pain.