Pain signals use the spinal cord and nerve fibres to travel to our brain. Acute pain tells us that something is wrong and often needs treatment – for example, a broken bone. Chronic pain is more long-term pain, which often serves no useful purpose. It is estimated that there around 800,000 people in Scotland with chronic pain.
- Recommended Two-Session Hypnopain Healing Programme
- Professional Recording To Listen At Home
- Workbook To Take Home
Chronic pain may be related to a condition, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. It can also be related to pain from an operation or injury which continues after healing would have expected to take place. Sometimes, chronic pain has no detectable cause in illness, injury or operation. Over time, chronic pain can be highly debilitating, affecting our energy levels, sleep patterns, ability to work and relationships.
Pain can also take different forms. Musculosketal is pain felt in the bones or muscles. Neuropathic is pain that happens through the nervous system. Nociceptive is pain caused by inflammation of a tissue. Referred pain is pain that is felt in one part of the body, but is caused in another part of the body.
The power of hypnotherapy is that it works at the subconscious level and triggers the body’s natural ability to reduce chronic pain. Hypnotherapy has been used to relieve pain for a long time. Hypnosis can reduce the brain’s response to pain signals.
Hypnohealing involves encouraging the subconscious mind to focus extra healing effort on an affected area to improve health. Hypnotherapy and hypnohealing can be utilised alongside conventional medical treatments to reduce pain and aid healing in a wide range of medical treatments, including cancer.
There is research that supports hypnotherapy being effective in reducing chronic pain. The European Journal of Pain reported on a study where people with osteoarthritis reported a significant and substantial decrease in pain activity using hypnosis which was maintained through six months of follow-up.
If you are in pain it is important you see a qualified doctor and receive the appropriate tests and scans in relation to chronic pain. Contact us for pain management in Edinburgh
Over time, to relieve the stiffness of the arthritis, I tried physio, Alexander Technique, exercise class and chiropraxis with varied benefits, but none specifically to my heel or gait. These having failed, and despite deep-rooted scepticism, I was persuaded by a neighbour and former practitioner to try hypnotherapy. I chose Stephen from a list on the internet, and that seems to have been a lucky choice. I have had two sessions with Stephen over the last month or so and have experienced a definite and significant improvement in my walking. I felt the benefit after my first session, having to walk half a mile to get my bus home and doing so without the usual lameness caused by the painful heel. After the second session I surprised myself when I had to scurry briefly to catch a bus and did so without trouble or discomfort. Now, on short walks, I generally go out without a stick, being fairly confident in my balance and finding some improvement in my stamina. Tom, Midlothian
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into hypnosis — I was definitely skeptical, but tried to stay open-minded. I’m really glad I did. The session helped me feel genuinely relaxed, and I noticed a real shift in how I experienced my pain afterwards and allowed me to stop taking pain medication after 2 years. It’s not a complete cure, pain can still come, but it made a meaningful difference and reminded me how powerful the mind-body connection can be. Highly recommend giving it a try if you’re dealing with chronic pain or tension. Lindsay, Edinburgh
