U.S. Military Adds Acupuncture to their Arsenal for Pain Management

The Department of Defense’s task force on pain management has recently updated their protocols to offer a comprehensive strategy that includes both traditional and “non-traditional” treatment options. In addition to drugs, military medicine will now offer acupuncture, biofeedback and massage to their patients in chronic pain.

In the past, opiate drugs have been used, which not only knocked down the pain, but also knocked out the patient.

“When the kids leave for school in the morning, Dad’s on the couch. The pain is controlled,” Colonel Galloway said. “Victory for us and medicine — we did a good job. But when the kids come home from school in the afternoon, Dad’s still on the couch.”

Here’s a link to the DOD news release dated October 25. 2011.