Combined Pain Neuroscience Education and Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Post-Thoracoscopic Pain

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether combining pain neuroscience education (PNE) with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) could reduce acute pain after thoracoscopic lung resection, alleviate psychological distress, and decrease rescue analgesic use.

In this randomized controlled trial, 58 patients were allocated to either an experimental group (PNE + PMR) or a control group (conventional treatment). Postoperative pain intensity, central sensitization, pain catastrophizing, quality of recovery, and rescue analgesic use were assessed and compared between groups.

Baseline demographic characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. Compared with controls, patients in the experimental group reported lower postoperative pain, reduced central sensitization and pain catastrophizing, and less frequent use of rescue analgesics. No significant differences in overall recovery quality were observed.

PNE combined with PMR is a feasible non-pharmacological strategy within multimodal analgesia protocols. This approach may enhance perioperative pain control and psychological well-being while reducing reliance on opioids, thereby contributing to improved patient outcomes.