Providence Hypnosis Center, LLC    401 351 1700                 Providence, Rhode Island               email: patrick@provhyp.com

hypnosis and pain

Hypnotherapy for medical and mental health issues requires diagnosis and referral from a physician or mental health professional, we can direct you to someone familiar with our work.

The control of pain is the most widely recognized medical use for hypnosis. It is so effective that it can be used for anesthesia in the operating room. For additional information on the use of hypnosis in anesthesia and surgery see the article and references at the bottom of this page.

The use of the mind to deal with pain is particularly valuable in working with chronic pain. We have seen great benefit in conditions such as cancer, fibromyalgia, neuromas, neuropathies, RSD, lower back trauma, arthritis, AIDS and comparable issues. The processes we use in our practice deal with many of the emotional issues that always accompany chronic pain, and this in turn can be instrumental in reducing discomfort..

Most chronic pain can be addressed in five sessions of hypnosis. Our goal is to provide noticeable relief during the first visit, building to sustainable results for most clients by the third visit. Self-hypnosis is taught for long term self care.

INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES

Beth Israel Hospital, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a highly relaxed, trance-like state in which the conscious or rational part of the brain is temporarily tuned out through a focus on relaxation and non-attention to distracting thoughts. During hypnosis, changes like those found in meditation can occur, such as a slowing of the pulse and respiration, and an increase in alpha brain waves. The person may become more open to specific suggestions and therapeutic goals such as pain reduction. In the post-suggestion phase, the continued use of the new behavior after the hypnosis session is reinforced.

Medical hypnosis has been shown to be helpful in reducing both acute and chronic pain (Holyroid, 1996). A National Institutes of Health panel found hypnosis to be effective in alleviating the pain associated with cancer (NIH, 1996). A 1997 review of the literature on hypnosis in pain control, which evaluated all controlled scientific studies comparing hypnosis to other psychological interventions for pain, showed hypnosis to be equally or more effective in reducing suffering and possibly even reducing pain sensation (Holyroid, 1996). Other studies have shown effectiveness of hypnosis for pain associated with burns, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis (DePalma, 1997) (Sellick, 1998) and pain and anxiety reduction related to surgery (Lang, 2000). Clinical evidence supports the use of hypnosis in reducing pain in a wide variety of acute and chronic pain conditions for a substantial number of patients.

The Role of Hypnosis For Pain Management by Scott M. Fishman, MD

CLICK ON LOGO FOR FULL TEXT......Many of Dr. Rockers patients ask him if hypnosis really works. This is because they have often seen it used for entertainment, in which people do silly things in front of others. He reminds his patients that medical hypnosis truly does work; studies have shown that nearly all patients with pain can benefit from hypnosis in some way. Dr. Rockers often cites a well-known study of 86 women with metastatic cancer; the women using self-hypnosis reported half as much pain as those who did not use hypnosis.

Hypnosis continues to play an important role in pain management in the 21^st Century. It offers a rare window into the mind-body connection, revealing clues about the power and control the mind has to both increase pain, and reduce it. Hypnotism is an important piece of the mind-body puzzle, that allows one’s mind and state of consciousness the ability to take charge over the type of pain you are experiencing. Although hypnotism may not be able to cure the underlying cause of pain, in most cases, it can help patients manage it.