A Patient with Chronic Back Pain That Is Unrelieved by Prescription

question 3

Multiple Choice

A patient with chronic back pain that is unrelieved by prescription analgesic medications asks a primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about acupuncture treatments.The NP should tell this patient:

• A) biofield therapy has been shown to be more effective than acupuncture.
• B) creatine has been shown to be an effective herbal choice to treat back pain.
• C) there is no valid research documenting the efficacy of this treatment for pain.
• D) most studies that show benefits of alternative therapies are based on observation.

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Definitions:

Stress Reactions

Physical, mental, and emotional responses or adaptations by an individual to perceived threats or challenges.

Immune Responses

The reactions of the immune system in defending the body against pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances.

Stressors

Events or conditions that cause stress or tension by challenging an individual's ability to cope.

Adaptation-Level Phenomenon

The tendency of humans to quickly adjust to and normalize new stimuli or changes, using them as a new benchmark or standard.