Acupuncture for Post-Thoracotomy Pain

"Acupuncture 30 day treatment BL12 - 19 and extra point Wei Guan Xia Shu Each side of the spine,1.5 cun (\~2.5cm) lateral to the lower border of spinous process of the T2 - 10 spinal vertebrae respectively 4 weeks ST36, Below the knee, 3 cun (\~7.5cm) inferior to the lower border of the patella, one finger breadth lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia. One week following removal of epidural.~Shenmen, bilaterally. At the lateral 1/3 of the triangular fossa in the auricle.One week following removal of epidural.~Questionnaires 30 / 60 / 90 Day and 12 Month Follow-up-Numerical rating scale of pain; total opioid use; Medication Quantification Scale; length of stay; Brief Pain Inventory"

"The back studs will be placed halfway between the upper and lower border of spinous processes T2 to T10, approximately 0.5 cun (\~1.25cm) from the spine. The leg studs will be placed at 2 cun (\~5cm) posterior to GB34 on the posterior of the lower leg. No studs will be placed in the ear; rather studs will be placed on the anterior arm, 3 cun (\~ 5cm) proximal and 3 cun (\~ 5cm) medial to the midpoint of the antecubital crease.~Pain will be assessed by a 0 - 10 point numerical rating scale (NRS) marked no pain at one end and worst pain at the other."