Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery (NCT07197710) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Imagined Acupuncture for Postoperative Pain After Spinal Surgery
United States120 participantsStarted 2025-10-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether imagined acupuncture can reduce postoperative acute pain in adult patients undergoing spinal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does video-guided imagined acupuncture improve postoperative pain control?
Does the intervention reduce opioid consumption and improve functional recovery in the immediate postoperative period?
Researchers will compare the imagined acupuncture group to the control education video group to see if imagery-based intervention leads to better pain outcomes and reduced analgesic use.
Participants will:
Watch a 30-minute video once daily for 7 consecutive days after surgery
Complete pain and function assessments during the hospital stay and postoperative follow-up
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Undergoing 1- to 2-level primary spine surgery
* Aged 18 years or older
* Willing and able to receive postoperative imagined acupuncture (VGAIT)
* Able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Undergoing revision surgery or procedures involving more than 3 spinal levels
* History of prior spinal surgery
* Intraoperative complications likely to interfere with postoperative pain assessment
* Diagnosed with severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders that impair participation or communication
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Unable to cooperate with treatment or pain assessments Individuals with uncorrectable vision impairment that would interfere with viewing study videos or completing study questionnaires.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial uses 'imagined acupuncture' rather than actual needle acupuncture for pain after spinal surgery — can you explain what that actually involves and whether there's any existing evidence that a mental or visualization-based approach like this can meaningfully reduce real postoperative pain?
2The trial is measuring how much rescue opioid medication patients need after surgery — if I enroll and the imagined acupuncture doesn't work well enough, am I guaranteed access to the same standard pain medications I would receive if I weren't in the trial?
3Since this trial has no assigned phase, it sounds like it may be very early-stage research — does that mean there's limited safety or effectiveness data so far, and how does that uncertainty compare to just receiving the standard postoperative pain management you'd normally recommend for me?
4The trial also tracks functional recovery using something called the ODI score — how long would I need to participate and attend follow-up visits, and is that realistic given my expected recovery timeline after spinal surgery?
5Are there standard postoperative pain management options — like nerve blocks, physical therapy, or established medications — that I should consider before deciding whether joining a study based on an experimental mental imagery technique makes sense for my specific situation?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pain Scores (VAS)
Timeframe: During the first postoperative week (Days 0-6)