Pain should never be treated for its own sake, but if the underlying cause is known and your doctor gives permission, hypnosis can be very effective in relieving pain. Hypnotherapy is used in a variety of situations for treating pain, including the following:
- Post-operative pain - where traditional painkillers aren't appropriate, perhaps because the patient is afraid needles or allergic to medication.
- Phantom limb pain - amputees sometimes experience pain from limbs which have been removed, and research has shown that hypnosis has had impressive results in treating this kind of pain.
- Palliative care - some hypnotherapists work with terminally ill patients to manage their pain and improve their quality of life. NB this is a specialism and not all hypnotherapists are happy to work with the terminally ill.
