Self-Hypnosis as Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis is a health condition that causes inflammation to one or more of the body's joints. This condition often affects older adults and inflammation usually occurs in the knees, wrists or part of the spinal column. Among many symptoms, the most common are joint pain and stiffness.

If you have arthritis, your doctor has probably recommended arthritis treatment options, depending on the type of your arthritis and its severity. Some treatments for arthritis are:

• Analgesics: Medications that ease pain associated with joint inflammation
• Counterirritants: Topical creams or ointments that relieve aches and stiffness
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Medications that slow or stop the immune system from attacking the joints.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter medications that reduce pain and inflammation.

If you have arthritis, you've probably chosen one or more of these arthritis treatment types. Did you know, however, that self-hypnosis techniques may also ease the pain associated with your arthritis?

Self-Hypnosis Techniques as Arthritis Treatment

Self-hypnosis techniques traditionally aim to help people reach a state of complete focus and relaxation. In recent years, however, hypnosis has become a popular method of easing stress, lowering blood pressure, and even managing symptoms associated with asthma, burns, arthritis and more.

How do self-hypnosis techniques work? These methods harness your ability to use your imagination and make verbal suggestions, helping you to perceive or experience your pain differently. Self-hypnosis for arthritis aims to shift your focus from your joint pain to the simplicity of your breathing patterns and the vividness of your imagination.

Practicing Self-Hypnosis for Arthritis

If you're ready to begin practicing self-hypnosis techniques to ease your arthritis symptoms, follow these steps:

• Find a comfortable place to sit and fixate your eyes, and your mind, on one object, whether it's a glass of water on your desk or a tree in your backyard.
• Start to let your mind wander and imagine you're walking through a peaceful place, such as the beach or garden.
• Once you can vividly imagine this location, make suggestions to yourself that may help block out the pain, such as "I place the pain in the water and watch it float out into the ocean."

Choosing Self-Hypnosis as Arthritis Treatment

While some people may find relief from practicing self-hypnosis techniques for arthritis, others may not. Some experts say this method isn't an effective arthritis treatment, as it masks the pain, rather than treating it directly. Talk to your doctor about self-hypnosis techniques for arthritis to see if this alternative treatment is right for you.

Resources

Arthritis Today. (n.d.). Hypnosis for pain.Retrieved August 30, 2010, from http://www.arthritistoday.org/conditions/osteoarthritis/managing-pain/hypnosis-for-pain.php

Dinsmoor, R. S. (2010). Hypnosis.Retrieved August 30, 2010, from http://www.arthritisselfmanagement.com/newsletter/08-05-2010/hypnosis/

Mayo Clinic. (2009). Arthritis.Retrieved August 30, 2010, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/DS01122