I want other options
Can I get acupuncture or massage while I'm in the hospital?
Photo: Antoni Shkraba / Pexels
Often, yes. Many hospitals have massage therapists, acupuncturists or an integrative medicine team. You usually have to ask: tell the nurse you'd like it, and ask for a doctor's order if the hospital needs one.
What to do
- Ask the nurse: "Does this hospital offer massage, acupuncture or other non-drug help for pain?"
- If yes, ask the doctor to put in the order or referral today.
- If not, ask what non-drug options they do have, such as heat, cold, music, positioning or relaxation, and whether an outside practitioner may visit.
What to say
Does the hospital offer massage or acupuncture for patients? I'd like to try it for my pain, alongside my care. Who do I ask to set it up?
Say it to the nurse first. For a parent, say "for my mother's pain" and ask the same way.
What to watch out for
This is a sensitive stepSmall details here can change the outcome, and some mistakes are hard to undo. We highly recommend a free 15-minute call with us before you decide.
Assuming it isn't offered. These services are often not on the menu card or in the welcome folder. Ask the nurse, the charge nurse or the patient advocate.
Also: forgetting to ask about cost. Some hospitals include it, some charge, and insurance may not pay. Ask before the first session.
Better done together
We’re here to help
In a hospital, it can be hard to know who to ask for anything extra, and harder still when you are the one in pain or sitting by a parent's bed.
We can help you find out what the hospital offers, who sets it up, and what it may cost, so you can ask the right person the first time. Book a free 15-minute call and we'll work it out with you.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
Free · 15 minutes · No pressure
The rule behind it
Hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission must provide non-drug ways to manage pain (standard LD.04.03.13, in force since January 2018). The Joint Commission's own explanation names acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, physical therapy, relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy as examples. It says hospitals should talk with patients about their preferences, and when a hospital can't offer what you prefer, it should tell you where you can get it after you go home. Studies in US hospitals found lower pain scores after massage and acupuncture. At Mayo Clinic's hospitals, 1,220 sessions in three months were mostly massage, then acupuncture, and pain scores fell after both. In a trial of 605 veterans after major surgery, an evening back massage eased pain and anxiety. Under Medicare's patient rights rules, you can ask for a treatment, and the team decides if it fits your care.
Sources
- The Joint Commission · R3 Report Issue 11: Pain assessment and management standards for hospitals
- The Joint Commission · R3 Report Issue 15: same standard for critical access hospitals
- Clark et al., Explore 2019 · Integrative medicine services and pain in hospitalized patients, Mayo Clinic (PubMed)
- Mitchinson et al., Arch Surg 2007 · Massage after major surgery, randomized trial (PubMed)
- Johnson et al., J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2014 · Integrative medicine for pain and anxiety in oncology inpatients (PubMed)
- 42 CFR 482.13 · Hospital condition of participation: patient's rights
Amanda Alcodia
Last reviewed: October 2026
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
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