Nonmedicinal treatment of pain gains adherents

Alternative therapies such as self-hypnosis offer new hope for people who suffer from chronic pain

December 17, 1999
Web posted at: 10:13 p.m. EST (0313 GMT)

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From Medical Correspondent Dr. Steve Salvatore

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Some people who suffer from chronic pain are putting their medications aside and turning to an alternative form of treatment. Hypnosis is becoming a popular option with both patients and doctors.

"Pain management ... more often than not, is not curing pain, but it's helping people who have chronic pain return to a more optimal level of functioning," said Alan Lebovitz of the New York University Medical Center.

Self-hypnosis helps patient

Mehboob Shivji is very aware of how pain is affecting his life. He has a muscular joint disease that leaves him in constant pain.

But living on pain medications and with the side effects they can cause is not acceptable for some patients. So they are willing to try something else.

VIDEO CNN's Dr. Steve Salvatore reports on how one patient practices pain management. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Power over pain

"I do half an hour of self-hypnosis," Shivji said. "And literally I go from not being able to walk much, to being completely fine -- very manageable without taking extra medications."

Lebovitz said, "The way I use hypnosis is teaching patients a relaxation technique. It teaches them to distract themselves from the pain."

He said, "It doesn't work for everybody. Some people it works more easily or better with than other people. But most patients can derive some benefit from hypnosis."

Overcoming skepticism

The National Institutes of Health recognizes hypnosis as a valid alternative therapy for chronic pain.

Shivji says he feels much better after his session, more relaxed and ready to take on the world.

"When I started this I was a big skeptic, I didn't think it would help," Shivji said. "The pain was so severe, and I couldn't take any more medications because I would be too drowsy with narcotics, so I decided to give this a chance.

"And the effect was very dramatic."