Needling & mastectomy

[Guest guest]

Is it o.k. to needle the hand, arm, shoulder on the side of a

masectomy? I know Western needles are contraindicated, but wondered

if acupuncture needles would carry the same risk of infection? Does it

matter how long ago the surgery was done? I don't needle my patient

who had surgery last year, but have another whose surgery was in 1981.

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine , " Nancy Corsaro "

<eastwestacup wrote:

>

> Is it o.k. to needle the hand, arm, shoulder on the side of a

> masectomy? I know Western needles are contraindicated, but wondered

> if acupuncture needles would carry the same risk of infection? Does it

> matter how long ago the surgery was done? I don't needle my patient

> who had surgery last year, but have another whose surgery was in 1981.

> Thanks.

>

 

There is not much possibility of infection due to acupuncture, especially

if you are only

needling distal points.

Even the scar from a masectomy can be needled if a few months have passed.

This would

be appropriate if the person was feeling any pain along the scar line.