The Expectation Effect

Research I'm reading:

The Power of Placebo

This study in the New England Journal of Medicine dates back to 2002, but still astounds me. A total of 180 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to receive arthroscopic débridement (surgeon cleaned up damaged cartilage), arthroscopic lavage (surgeon washed out joint), or placebo surgery (surgeon simulated sounds of a real surgery, made skin incision, but did not enter the knee joint).

Over the next two years, researchers measured knee pain, walking ability, climbing stairs, overall function, and patient satisfaction. All three groups improved. The two groups receiving real surgery did no better than the placebo group.

This study fundamentally changed how doctors think about arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Since then, multiple randomized trials have reached similar conclusions, including studies on degenerative meniscus tears, finding that arthroscopic surgery often provides no better outcomes than sham surgery or structured physical therapy for many patients with age-related degenerative knee problems.

Testimonial I'm loving:

"Hi Gail,

I was very relaxed afterwards. I felt a heaviness, but no pain. I slept that night with less pain."

Quote I'm contemplating:

"It told you what you most want is what you most can't have and that the most you can't have is what you already had and lost." -- Odysseus in The Odyssey (2026)

Product I'm trying:

Doterra Rosemary Oil

I am sensitive to most fragrances, but I have found Doterra Rosemary Oil to make our home smell wonderful without giving me a headache or making me sneeze. I have not tried other brands of rosemary oil. My Mom loved essential oils, and I have a hundred of them. This is the first in the batch that works for me. A patient also told me that smelling rosemary while you sleep helps your brain function. Win-win!

Song I'm enjoying:

The Name of the Game by ABBA

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PS Click on the blue links to learn more about the topic.