Effects of Hypnosis Therapy on Pain and Opioid Use Following Shoulder Replacement Surgery: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Severe postoperative pain can lead to chronic pain and long-term opioid use, increasing the risk of addiction. This study evaluated the feasibility and effects of therapeutic hypnosis (TH) compared to standard care (SC) on postoperative pain and opioid use in shoulder replacement surgery. Sixty-four out of 96 eligible participants were enrolled. Forty-nine completed the study; 25 received TH, and 24 received SC. TH participants listened to a hypnosis audio recording starting 7 days prior to surgery. Ninety-seven percent adhered to the treatment by accessing the recording at least once before surgery, and 90% reported satisfaction with the intervention. TH reported lower pain intensity than SC participants pre- and postoperatively, with medium effect size differences at Day 10. Additionally, TH participants used half as much opioid medication during the immediate postoperative period (Days 1–3) compared to SC participants. The TH intervention appears feasible, and conducting a fully powered clinical trial appears warranted.