What if your patient prefers an alternative pain control method? Self-hypnosis for pain control.

Despite the availability of specialized treatments for chronic pain, including biofeedback training, relaxation training, and hypnotic treatment, most physicians rely on the traditional approaches of surgery or pharmacotherapy. The patient in this case study had severe and chronic pain but found little relief from pain medications that also caused side effects. She then took the initiative to learn and practice self-hypnosis with good results. Her physician in the resident's internal medicine clinic supported her endeavor and encouraged her to continue self-hypnosis. This patient's success shows that self-hypnosis can be a safe and beneficial approach to control or diminish the pain from chronic pain syndrome and can become a useful part of a physician's therapeutic armamentarium.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, USA.

South Med J. 1999 May;92(5):521-3