As in all life, perception molds our
reality. For example, a long wait in an express-checkout lane can be
viewed as either a pain-in-the-behind irritation or an opportunity to
read a trashy tabloid. Likewise, if you get slammed in wheelchair rugby,
you’ll probably forget about a nagging allergy headache. The attention
you direct to pain or discomfort is energy that fuels it. Hypnosis is
like a valve that shuts-off the flow in this fuel-line of consciousness.
Studies
University of Washington’s Dr. Mark
Jensen has spearheaded efforts to evaluate hypnosis’ potential to reduce
SCI-pain:
1) In 2000, he treated four individuals
with SCI with four sessions of hypnosis. The participants were evaluated
for pain using a 0-10 pain scale (0 = no pain;10 = most intense pain
imaginable), and the degree pain interfered with sleep using another
0-10 scale. After hypnotic induction, participants were given various
pain-relieving suggestions (see see below). At the end of each session,
they were told that they would be able to recreate their hypnotic state
by taking and holding a deep breath, as well as listening to an
audiotape made from the sessions to reinforce the treatment and their
self-hypnosis skills.
EXAMPLES OF HYPNOTIC
SUGGESTIONS
Patient experiences are summarized below:
Patient 1,
a 65-year-old woman who sustained an incomplete C-5 injury 43 years
earlier, had foot pain building up during the day to a sleep-interfering
6.5 intensity. After her final session, pain levels dropped to 3.8, and
sleep-interference was cut nearly in half. Because she didn’t continue
self-hypnosis, her pain eventually returned to pretreatment levels.
Patient 2,
a 28-year-old male with a complete C-5 injury from an auto accident 10
years earlier, had stinging leg and hand pain. His pain intensity fell
from 2.0 before treatment to 1.5 afterwards, and sleep interference
dropped from 3.0 to 1.0. These improvements were maintained a year
later.
Patient 3,
a 37-year-old male who had a C-4/5 level injury due to gunshot 14 years
earlier, had lower back pain. Treatment and daily self hypnosis reduced
the pain from 5.0 to 0.5 and eliminated sleep interference. However,
levels increased again when he discontinued daily self-hypnosis.
Patient 4,
a 42-year-old woman with a T-12/L-1 injury from a fall 17 years
previously, experienced painful electrical sensations in her legs. After
treatment, her pain intensity dropped from 4.5 to 2.0, and sleep
interference decreased from 3.5 to 1.5.
2) In 2005, Jensen used hypnosis to treat
pain in 33 individuals with SCI (13 subjects), multiple sclerosis (10),
amputation (7), and other disabilities (3). Average pain intensity was
assessed before treatment, after 10 sessions, and three months later.
Individuals who completed all sessions reported an average 21% reduction
in pain, much of which persisted three months later. Those with
amputation seemed to have the greatest pain relief, reporting a 43%
average reduction in pain compared to only 17% for SCI and 10% for MS.
3) Building upon this study, Jensen
evaluated the long-term, pain-relief benefits accruing to the
aforementioned individuals who completed the 10 sessions and regularly
practiced self-hypnosis. Specifically, pain levels were assessed 3, 6,
9, and 12 months after treatment. At all follow-up intervals, average
pain intensity was lower than that observed before treatment. The
percentage reporting a clinically significant reduction in
average pain intensity at these follow-up times were 27%, 19%, 19%, and
23%, respectively. Although seemingly modest reductions, participants
frequently used self-hypnosis to manage pain flair-ups.
4) In 2009, a post-doctoral fellow
working with Jensen treated a 27-year-old soldier with a C-6 incomplete
injury from a gunshot. He could not tolerate PT exercises because they
triggered level-10, worst-imaginable pain. In addition to hypnotic
pain-relieving suggestions, he was given suggestions concerning overall
healing, progression in therapies, and increased self-confidence about
his eventual hospital discharge and return to civilian life. Each
session ended with post-hypnotic suggestions for continued self-hypnosis
practice. After 10 sessions, his pain levels greatly decreased, he could
straighten his fingers, and his hands lost their “claw-like” appearance.
As a result, he could participate more fully in rehabilitation and
reduce pain medications. Six months later, his pain sensitivity had
decreased considerably.
5) In 2009, Jensen treated 37 individuals
with SCI randomly assigned to receive either hypnosis or
biofeedback-relaxation. Unlike drug studies, it is difficult to create a
control group for hypnosis because subjects will know if they are being
hypnotized and report benefits skewed by that knowledge. The
investigators selected biofeedback relaxation as a comparison because,
in part, it could be administered in a somewhat similar fashion. In
hindsight, it was a questionable choice because it also brought about
some pain relief through overlapping mechanisms (e.g., suggestive
techniques). Still those who received hypnosis treatment got more
pain-reduction benefit than those who received biofeedback.
Conclusion
Reflecting the Buddhist proverb “Pain is
inevitable. Suffering is optional,” life’s fundamental nature is that we
all have pain, but the weight we give it, and, in turn, the suffering we
cumulatively manifest depends on our consciousness. Although not a cure,
hypnosis can transplant the pain from a consciousness where it can
flourish to one where it cannot take root.
Adapted from article
appearing in October 2012 Paraplegia News (For subscriptions, call
602-224-0500) or go to
www.pn-magazine.com.
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