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mazcon
Junior Member
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:54 pm
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| pain management |
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Hiya
I am seeing a client at the moment who has a very painful leg ulcer but because of a very nasty side effect to pain killers, she is coming to me for pain management. Unfortunately our work together is not too successful so I'd like some input please.
This client is very hypnotic, no problems there. She gets eye lock and drifts off very quickly. She has seen a doctor for her ulcer. We have discussed the role that pain plays in injury and healing so we set a goal as managing the pain down from an 8 or 9 out of 10 to about 3. I have explained the value of relaxation, have taught her relaxation and breathing techniques and given her a CD to help with that. I have also made her a CD which is designed to help with the healing.
She describes the pain in her foot as being bright red and hot and the sensation in her comfortable foot as being a soft grey and cool. I have used this in hypnosis, first suggesting the red fading and cooling and then having the grey coming in. I have used metaphors to imply the same thing. I have talked about pain signals lighting up in parts of the brain and used metaphors as well as direct suggestion to have her dim the lights or switch them off.
At the end of our 2 sessions, she has experienced a small reduction in pain but it usually returns before she leaves the clinic.
Any helpful comments would be appreciated. Thanks
Maz |
jurplesman
Super Member
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 11459
Location: Sydney, Australia
Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:14 am
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HI mazcon,
As a Nutritional Psychologist I tend to look upon these symptoms from a psychonutritional point of view.
Of course we need the help of a doctor to find out what causes these pains. If any medical conditions are eliminated we may assume that these symptoms are psychological. The point is that a perfectly health person should not be producing these strange pains. If they are "psychological" there is a great likelihood that overproduction of adrenaline is involved. If so please read:
Anxiety and the Sympathetic Nervous System
There are many illnesses that can lead to psychological problems. Please see:
Diseases associated with Emotional Disorders
Psychiatric Presentations of Medical Illness by Ronald J Diamond M.D.
Management of Chronic Pain
or
Self-help Personal Growth Psychotherapy
and discuss with a Nutritional Doctor, a Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist if you want to.
These are some of the alternatives to look at. |
mazcon
Junior Member
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:36 am
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Hi
Thanks for your reply.
My client is not experiencing strange pains, she has an ulcer on her foot that is in the process of healing. I have made some suggestions about her diet (which is poor), explaining the relationship between nutrition and healing. The links you provided are very helpful, though not really in this case.
It occured to me that there may be an underlying psychological reason for the fact that her pain is not reducing, especially as she had such a severe reaction to pain medication, however she does not want to engage in psychotherapy - she has come to me for pain management.
I guess the point of my posting is that the hypnosis work I have done so far has proved ineffective to the client, despite the fact that she is deeply hypnotic. My question is more about my professional development, in the interests of my client. I wondered if there are any suggestions for pain management hypnosis that I might try, so as to help her feel more comfortable until the healing is complete.
Many thanks |
Joe100
Preferred Member
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 443
Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:48 am
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maz, one small idea.
Use the pain as a trigger for the healing to begin. Set it as a self reinforcing PHS.
Joe
wikihyp. com |
mazcon
Junior Member
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:58 am
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thanks Joe, that sounds like an interesting idea. Would you be able to elaborate a little more for me please?
thanks |
suddengreen
Full Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 248
Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:16 am
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have you looked at the possibility of any secondary benefit the client might be deriving from that pain - sympathy, attention...etc. ? |
skeitel
Preferred Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Posts: 786
Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:16 pm
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she may not have a FULL commitment to healing. She may get something -attention? subsidies? delaying a decision?- from keeping the pain going. Maybe you could do parts therapy under hypnosis to find this out, talking with the parts that are objecting to the healing process to be effective.
It seems she is not fully commited. Maybe she came to you because she has to show someone else that she is "doing something about it", but she prefers to keep the pain for the time being. |
mazcon
Junior Member
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:46 am
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thanks to all of you for your thoughts about this. I am sure that you are right about the secondary gain - especially as she has had a reaction to pain relief medication. I don't know if this client will be making another appointment but if she does I will certainly find all your ideas useful
best wishes
Maz |
FrankMurphy
Preferred Member
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 478
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:23 pm
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Get rid of the ulcer and the pain will go with it.
Have her visualise her 'white soldiers' battering the ulcer, breaking it down in size and strength and intensity.
Transfer the pain to the tip of her finger, then let her 'flick' the pain away. |
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