Pain-relief and movement improvement by acupuncture after ablation and axillary lymphadenectomy in patients with mammary cancer.

Abstract

Acupuncture seems to be an effective treatment to relieve pain and improve arm-movements after ablation and axillary lymphadenectomy. The "Xie-technique" is used at the main acupuncture points and the patient's feeling must be particularly considered. The combination of the different main points with the correctly selected additional acupuncture points--referred to the basic state and the pre- und post-operative state of the patient--are very important for a successful application of acupuncture.