What is pain management?
Pain is a signal your body sends to your brain to tell you something isn’t quite right. It’s a sign that you need to listen and do something different. Pain management is about finding the best ways to control pain and gain relief so you can experience a better quality of life.
Most people will have felt different types of pain, and some pain comes and goes relatively quickly. However, other pain can linger for much longer – more than a few days or weeks. Around 28 million adults in the UK are dealing with long-term pain. Finding ways to manage this ongoing or chronic pain is crucial.
Your pain might have an obvious reason, like a recent injury, or a condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia. Sometimes, it can be harder for you to identify a clear cause – it could be a combination of things.
There’s a lot that can be done to control your pain and help you cope better without the constant background noise of discomfort. Pain management hypnotherapy can help you return to your daily life and to do more of the things you enjoy
Up to 50% of GP consultations are related to pain
Headaches, back pain and joint pain are the most common types of pain
The less education you have, the more likely you are to experience pain problems: 50% with no qualifications, 36% with a degree, and 27% with higher degrees
34% of adults have chronic pain. It is slightly more common in women than men
41% of people attending pain clinics report their pain has prevented them from working. 13% have had to reduce their working hours
What causes people to struggle with pain control and pain management?
Understanding the different types of pain can help you consider the most effective pain relief strategies for you.
Acute pain is like your body’s immediate alarm for injuries or illnesses. This can be sharp, like a graze, a cut or a burn, but the pain fades and goes completely once you heal.
Chronic pain is long term pain that doesn’t go away. You might not feel it all the time or you might feel it at different intensities. It’s often due to a health condition or the ongoing result of serious injury.
Nociceptive pain is triggered by your nerve receptors. This can feel like a sudden or shooting pain, a burning pain, or like pins and needles. It’s your body’s reaction to real damage or inflammation to your body’s tissue. For ‘real damage’, nociceptive pain can be a warning system: pricking yourself on something sharp or touching a hot oven tray. Inflammation is your body’s way of helping to heal damage, like lower back pain, pulled muscles or a sprain.
Neuropathic pain is when there is an issue with your nerves themselves. This is often caused by conditions like diabetes, where high blood sugar over time can damage your nerves. It can also be a side effect of chemotherapy, where the treatment can hurt your nerves and cause long-lasting pain.
Somatic pain involves bones, joints, or muscles, such as the ache from a sprained ankle or the discomfort of arthritis.
Visceral pain is related to your internal organs and might feel less specific but can be a sign of serious issues, like kidney stones.
Some people will feel pain more than others. Women have a greater chance of developing conditions like fibromyalgia, leading to widespread pain. As everyone gets older, they’re more likely to feel pain due to wear and tear on the body. This can also be caused by conditions like osteoarthritis.
Managing pain can be harder for some. People who lack resources or on lower incomes might struggle more to get the support they need, making their pain harder to manage. People with existing health conditions or a disability can also find it challenging to manage pain.
The impact of living with pain
Living with pain affects both your body and mind. It’s like constantly carrying a heavy backpack – it wears you out and can make you feel irritable, short-tempered, or simply too exhausted to do much.
This ongoing struggle with pain can significantly alter your daily feelings and interactions with others. At work, you might find it difficult to concentrate or be unable to perform as well as you’d like. You may need to take more sick days or face challenges in continuing your job.
Living with pain can sap your energy, making it harder to stick to social plans with friends or family. Long term, this can make you feel isolated and disconnected from family and friends. Even small things can become sources of frustration, leading to strained relationships. It’s not just about missing out on activities but also the difficulty in maintaining strong connections with those close to you.
Pain doesn’t only cause physical discomfort; it leads to emotional distress, such as feeling down, anxious or frustrated. Everyone’s experience with pain is personal, shaped by individual backgrounds and how we’ve observed others manage pain. It is okay to seek help and explore pain management strategies that work for you.
By finding support and understanding, you can lighten your heavy backpack. This will help you feel more like yourself again. It can also improve your quality of life and your relationships.
How can pain be managed?
Effective pain management is often a team effort involving you, healthcare professionals, and supportive therapies. Combining self-care with a variety of medications and therapies is the best approach to gaining better pain relief.
The right exercise
Gentle exercises as part of your daily routine will keep you active and help manage pain levels. Aim for low impact exercises like walking, swimming, yoga or Pilates, plus regular stretching. Do whatever works for you and build up gradually. An active lifestyle can prevent the cycle of good and bad days and, importantly, give you a sense of control over your pain.
Reasonable work adjustments
Staying engaged at work and doing your usual activities can distract you from the pain and maintain your mental wellbeing. Speak to your employer about reasonable adjustments to your work environment or schedule. This could be regular breaks, limiting stressful workloads and flexible working options.
Physical therapy
Professional physical therapy can improve your mobility and help to ease pain. Your therapist can guide you in a bespoke programme, including specific exercises and stretching.
Talking therapy
Therapeutic interventions, such as hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), can be invaluable in managing pain. CBT helps you address negative thought patterns and coping strategies, equipping you with effective tools to manage pain. By reframing thoughts about pain, hypnotherapy pain management provides a natural and effective means of coping.
Medication
Over-the-counter painkillers can allow you to stay active. For more severe pain that disrupts your daily life, you should speak to your GP as they may be able to prescribe stronger painkillers. These will usually only be for short-term use due to the risk of dependency and side effects. It’s crucial to use these under close medical supervision.
Antidepressants and anticonvulsants can be effective for neuropathic pain, targeting the nerve-related aspects of chronic pain. Topical creams and patches containing pain-relieving substances can target specific areas of pain.
Self care
Self-care practices are vital to manage your overall health and wellbeing. They help you pace yourself and work to your mind and body’s limits. Maintaining good sleep hygiene and a healthy diet will ensure you have more energy and less stress. Practise relaxation techniques and learn when to say, “No, thanks,” to doing things or, “Yes, please,” to some help. Being realistic about what you can and can’t do will bring more positivity and control to your life.
How can hypnotherapy help with pain relief?
Pain management hypnotherapy is an effective way to bridge the connection between your mind and body. Dealing with ongoing pain can trigger feelings of stress and anxiety, making your discomfort worse. However, hypnotherapy can provide you with relaxation techniques and alter your perception of pain.
During a pain management hypnotherapy session, you’ll find yourself comfortable and relaxed. By increasing relaxation, pain management hypnotherapy counteracts stress hormones that exacerbate pain. Your hypnotherapist will then introduce ways to gain pain relief.
Instead of ignoring the pain, hypnosis pain management lifts your fear and stress surrounding it. This helps to calm the nervous system and reduce tension. Techniques like visualising yourself peacefully can divert your attention from discomfort, promoting a sense of wellbeing. By redirecting your focus, hypnosis can reshape your pain experience for greater comfort in your day-to-day life.
Solution focused hypnotherapy emphasises positivity and strategies for pain and stress reduction. It alters the way your brain functions, reducing the intensity of pain and decreasing reliance on painkillers. It also prompts the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals, offering pain relief without side effects.
Typically, people need six to ten sessions of hypnosis and hypnotherapy for pain management, which we will tailor to your own specific needs.
Pain management hypnotherapy empowers you to control pain by harnessing the mind’s potential. Through relaxation, altering perceptions of pain and coping tools, hypnotherapy offers a compassionate and effective approach to pain relief.
Our Pain Management Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Bancroft
Rainham, Kent
Emma Treby
Mid Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Marina Love
Aylesbury Vale
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
