ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
 
Conditions > Osteoarthritis > Managing Osteoarthritis Pain > Hypnosis for Pain
Text Size   Plus   Minus   |   Print   |   Email  

Hypnosis for Pain

While some people may view hypnosis as contrived entertainment, it's progressed far from the days of being performed on volunteers in nightclubs. Hypnosis is not hocus pocus; it’s a tool used by an alternative pain management used by professionals to treat pain of all kinds from arthritis to dental procedures.

 

 Joseph Barber, PhD, a clinical professor of anesthesiology and rehabilitation at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, uses hypnosis for pain caused by arthritis. One patient, a 73-year-old grandmother with severe pain from knee osteoarthritis, couldn’t tolerate anti-inflammatory drugs. With just three hypnosis treatments – an unusually fast response – the pain in her knee decreased and she was able to return to normal daily activity. An analysis of 18 studies of hypnosis and pain with more than 900 people conducted by researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York bears out this patient’s experience, showing substantial pain relief in 75 percent of participants.

 So, just what is hypnosis? Hypnotherapists say it’s a way to focus one’s imagination and attention to help alleviate physical and emotional problems. Brain imaging has shown that some hypnotic suggestions reduce activity in brain areas associated with emotional responses to pain, while other suggestions reduce activity in an area of the brain more directly involved with the physical sensation of pain.

 Most hypnotherapists have patients stare at a fixed object, sometimes just a colored thumbtack stuck in a wall. The hypnotherapist then describes relaxing images, such as a walk along a beach, and asks the patient to focus on those images. Next, he uses imagery and suggestions to block out or transform pain, such as, “Lock away the pain in the box in the basement of an abandoned house.”

 While hypnosis typically helps relieve pain in four to 10 sessions, some people benefit faster and others not at all. Practitioners usually teach ways to continue therapy at home, and as long as the techniques are followed, people may not have to return for further sessions.

 To find a qualified hypnotherapist, ask your doctor for a referral or contact the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis,  or the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis Most health insurance companies cover hypnosis for pain therapy, if performed by a medical or psychological professional.

peter salisbury
16 Aug 2010, 09:51

Hypnosis as a form of pain management can be very effective through visualisation techniques.
However there are many different techniques one can use via hypnosis.

One such technique which is can be very effective is from the practice of 'New Code NLP' (the Dr. Within). The intervention is used in a light hypnotic state. The technique is conducted via an unconscious signal from the clients unconscious mind (not exactly the same as an ideomoter signal used in hypnosis).
If the unconscious mind will agree to reducing the pain it can take just one session to make instant changes. It is ecologically set up so there are no issues with conflict of medical conditions. It can also be used to heal many other medical conditions.

Pain management via hypnosis or NLP should ideally only be used after medical diagnosis has been confirmed.
Pain can be a signal system (messenger) and often serves a purpose. It is a way for your unconscious to alert you to take action. How would you know you were ill if you did not have a pain in some affected part?

My advice is "Do not kill the messenger until you have first listened to the message." Pain and illness can be both physical and/or psychological. Sometimes unblocking a psychological trauma is all that is required to change a physical condition.

As with all techniques and clinical interventions it is important to understand that we are dealing with individual people not techniques for specific conditions and as such each individual will respond according to their own set of circumstances.

Peter Salisbury
Cognitive Hypnotherapist.
Cert AdvHyp. Hpd.C.Hyp. Anlpts

www.livingahappylife.co.uk
Ina
20 Jul 2010, 10:34
How does one do self hypnosis? I am 47 and have had RA since I was 14. Might one also benefit from the self hypnosis to conquer fear of driving over bridges or any other fear? Can you recommend a book/cd or anything that will work?

Thank you,
Ina
Jim
05 Jul 2010, 16:40
In Greenville, SC, an excellent hypnotherapy provider is Diane Reynolds at HypnoSuccessStrategies, LLC. Ms. Reynolds has over 20 years experience, and has had significant success with helping patients with pain, sleeping disorders, smoking cessation, etc. She is nationally certified by the Association for the Advancement of Ethical Hypnosis, the National Board of Professional & Ethical Standards, and the National Guild of Hypnotists.
penny
14 Nov 2009, 11:06
i have a great hynotherapist and it has helped with my pain from psoriatic arthritis..her web site is mindinpeace.com
Carllean
05 Nov 2009, 19:23
I live in Wilmington DE and have been suffering with OA for the last 10 years.
I don't want surgery . The OA is under both knee caps. Help!!Moser
Patrick Coleman CCH
22 Aug 2009, 21:46
When a person relaxes the mind to a low alpha/high theta brain wave, the synapses does not occur between the three main neurons. The polarity shift is neutralized. If signals are sent, a natural quick amnesia of the signal happens. Sometimes even though it's a natural phenomenon, suggestions of numbing intentions are useful. Deal with what emerges as everyone responds individually to suggestions. Some faster than others and with a little conditioning (practice)anyone can achieve psycho-anesthetics. Most of my clients achieve complete comfort with a two minute relaxation practice. I hope this answers some questions on how hypnosis helps.
Respectfully
Patrick Coleman
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
www.colemanshypnotherapyclinic.com

Leave a Comment

The comment function provides the opportunity to comment on the content above.

General comments or questions to Arthritis Today editors and medical experts can be submitted here. Past medical questions and answers are available here.

Promotion of products and services and other inappropriate comments are prohibited and will be removed. If you spot one of these before we do, please send an alert.

All fields are required but only your name and comment will be displayed. Your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.

Name:
Email:
Text:

ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement