I found an interesting study that was done a number of years ago to assess the success of surgery for arthritis in the knee. The researcher surgeon was not convinced that surgery was as successful as we all believed in treating these people. He divided the patients to be in the study into 3 groups, but did not tell them which group they were in, nor what types operation he had planned.

All of these patients had degenerative arthritis of the knee, and all were taken to the operating room where one of three operations were performed. The patients in each group were told the same thing when the operation was explained, that an arthroscope, or small telescope would be placed in the joint and surgery would be done to address the arthritis and pain they were experiencing.

The first group had a synovectomy, or cleaning out any floating fragments and extra inflamed lining from the joint. The second group had an arthroscope placed in the joint and fluid was run in and out of the joint irrigating it thoroughly to cleanse it, but no tissue was removed. Essentially the joint had a washing out. In the third group all that was done was simply making an incision - no surgery whatsoever. No arthroscope was even placed in the joint and nothing at all was done. Only the incision in the skin was made!

All three groups of patients experienced positive results. They all got the same relief from the procedures, no matter which one was performed.

The conclusion drawn was that the metaphysical experience of having surgery was what gave these patients relief, not the type of operation performed.

This very interesting concept can easily be applied to alternative healing techniques. There is no doubt that massages start a true physiologic healing process in patients with nerve pain. Massage works by breaking the pain-spasm cycle. It also stimulates the release of endorphins and enkephalens (chemical messengers well known to decrease pain and increase our sense of well being). Also, when a muscle is massaged, there is a decrease in muscle spasm, which increases circulation, and healing occurs. Of equal importance, though, is the fact that the patient understands someone is doing something to heal them, and they allow their bodies to begin the healing process.