BY CLAIRE ALTSCHULER
I
ntegrative medicine therapies, including acupuncture,
nutritional counseling, massage therapy, Reiki, yoga,
meditation, and aromatherapy, can help treat pain. These
evidence-based therapies can be used separately or in
combination with conventional medical treatments to reduce
pain and improve quality of life.
R E D U C I N G PA I N A N D S U P P O RT I N G
T H O S E U N D E R G O I N G S U R G E RY T H R O U G H
Integrative Medicine
"PAIN IS ONE OF THE TOP THREE
REASONS PEOPLE SEEK OUT
MEDICAL CARE," SAYS DR. KEVIN
YAO, CHIEF OF NEUROSURGERY AT
ENGLEWOOD HEALTH. IN FACT,
JOINT AND BACK PAIN ARE TWO OF
THE THREE MOST COMMON
COMPLAINTS FROM PATIENTS.
NONSURGICAL OPTIONS FOR PAIN RELIEF
Dr. Yao, who is also a member of the advisory council at
the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood
Health, says patients come to him with a variety of neck and
back complaints, often seeking surgery. As a neurosurgeon,
Dr. Yao always counsels patients that surgery is the last resort.
Most patients can achieve pain relief without surgery.
V U E N J .C O M
43
