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Post by allenuk on Feb 5, 2010 13:43:12 GMT -7
Hypnotherapy.
Although my various attempts at hypnotherapy in the past have had mixed results, I am seriously thinking of it in relation to my socket pains, i.e. getting myself hypnotised with the object of not feeling socket pains.
I've tried it for smoking (gave up 23 years ago, not sure whether the hypno helped or not), drinking (alcoholic till 2002, now teetotal, but ditto about hypnosis), and weight loss. Ah well, still 115kg plus (that's lots of pounds for you non-metric North Americans).
Reasoning on the socket pain front: a) my prosthetist(s) have REALLY worked very hard getting my socket dead right, and I think it nearly is; but b) I feel that I have become OBSESSED with the darned thing, always concentrating on it, and any slight pains or discomforts, to the point where it dominates my thoughts when I'm moving/walking.
So what I'd be expecting of hypnotherapy would be to help me FOCUS elsewhere.
Anyone had any experiences of hypnosis?
Allen.
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Post by allenuk on Feb 5, 2010 13:44:11 GMT -7
To be honest, that new picture makes you look either drunk or half asleep, so my advice would be to change it back to the old one.
Yours,
A wellwisher.
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Post by snowyh on Feb 5, 2010 18:21:04 GMT -7
I've had no personal experience with hypnosis, but I'm a believer. However, pain is our bodies' way of telling us when things need attention*... are you sure that you're just obsessing about minor annoyances? Maybe you should give your stump a break & use a chair for a while. It's possible you're just a little sore, and the pros would feel better if you gave your stump a chance to rest up a bit. Has your prosthetist warned you that carrying excess weight may make it harder to get a comfortable fit?
Helen
*except for phantom pain
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Post by allenuk on Feb 6, 2010 7:32:41 GMT -7
Hello Helen,
And thanks for the thoughts. Yes, I agree that pains are the body's way of communicating, but there is a very fine line between awareness and obsession - a bit like a toothache that you keep prodding with your tongue, just to make sure it still aches.
Weight? Well, nearly all the other blokes at my limb-fitting centre who fit the 50-70 age group complain of having put on weight since their amputations. I held my gains at bay for the first couple of years, while I could walk a lot, but the past three years have seen me (I'll translate it) put on 40+ pounds. No, the prosthetist hasn't said that it's TOO much for his skills, but I take the point - if I were 40 pounds lighter it might be easier all round.
A wheelchair would drive me screaming to the local psychiatric unit, I'm afraid.
I shall a) pursue a proper diet, b) try and get exercising, maybe just on my bike (no stump pains on that), and c) get myself a self-hypnosis tape on pain management, too. I'll let you know if I have any success.
(Oh, and I'll take my advice and change that photo, which was probably a mistake...)
Allen.
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Post by hopscott on Feb 7, 2010 8:16:18 GMT -7
Hi Allen,
Have been very interested in Hypnosis myself for the same reason as you, to stop smoking, glad to hear it worked for you but i am a bit skeptical so don't know if it would work, don't you have to be very open to this stuff for it to work, did it work straight away for you?
Now i have tried acupuncture for IBS when all else had failed and after about 8-10 sessions it worked a treat and have never had the trouble again, am considering this for the smoking as the other half is only smoking about 3 a day and she will be stopping soon.
When i first went for my acupuncture i was told that someone in China (or somewhere round there) had open heart surgery with no pain management accept acupuncture (was a documentary on it that i didn't see) and they had about 300-400 needles in them and it was a success so if this is true it must be able to control pain, might have a search on net and youtube and see what it throws up, might be something else to consider.
Take care mate
Scott from across the pond.
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Post by ann- on Feb 8, 2010 0:21:00 GMT -7
Hi Allen
I have no experience of hypnosis ... but have some understanding of the point you may have reached in relation to stump pain and socket fit ... had years of this myself ... and got to the point where I couldn't bear the stump being touched etc. etc. and every prosthetic appointment became a nightmare .... like you say any slight pain or discomfort would be noticed... also any other pain I felt, I tended to feel it in my leg, if that makes sense.
So I say ... whatever works for you really, give it a go.
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Post by allenuk on Feb 8, 2010 3:10:26 GMT -7
Hello Scott, Ann.
Hypnosis only works if you want it to. If you want to smoke, drink, eat, etc., then you can be hypnotised from now till last Thursday and you will still do all those things. It helps concentrate the mind, but the mind must agree!
So in the case of distracting away from pain, I think the mind does agree.
Not sure whether the hypnosis worked on smoking or drinking, although it might have laid the groundwork for my future quitting. I liken it to having a big switch inside your head marked 'On' and 'Off'. If you can find it - and that's the tricky bit - and turn it to 'Off', all the rest is easy, or if not easy, at least achievable.
Mind over matter.
(At least the new picture stops me looking daft or drunk. Well, that's my hope - and I'm NOT winking - I've got a duff right eye).
Allen, bka, London. (no longer sure which side of the pond you're on, Scott!)
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Post by snowyh on Feb 8, 2010 5:20:30 GMT -7
Hi Allen, Have been very interested in Hypnosis myself for the same reason as you, to stop smoking, glad to hear it worked for you but i am a bit skeptical so don't know if it would work, don't you have to be very open to this stuff for it to work, did it work straight away for you? Scott, a former co-worker of mine used hypnosis to quit smoking, and it worked for her right away. Actually, I think the tape instructed her to select a quit date in the (near) future, and she continued to smoke as she listened to the tape until she reached that date. When she stopped, that was it. Allen's right, though, you have to be in the right frame of mind for it to work (be ready for it to work). Good luck! Helen |
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Post by snowyh on Feb 8, 2010 5:32:42 GMT -7
To be honest, that new picture makes you look either drunk or half asleep, so my advice would be to change it back to the old one. Allen, I figure I'll weigh in on the pic discussion (the one you've been having with yourself). As we've never met, I can't say that one or the other looks more like the real you, but here are my impressions. Your original profile pic made you look a bit older and more curmudgeonly. In the first replacement you appear younger and, if I'm not mistaken, your smile revealed some dimples. I don't see the sleepy/drunk thing. The current pic, taken during the same session as the first replacement, makes you look sad. I prefer the first replacement; however, you should pick the one that makes you look most like you really are--have you asked you wife or someone else who knows you for their advice? Helen |
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Post by allenuk on Feb 8, 2010 10:02:16 GMT -7
Helen: I will ask my wife. Trouble is, she's a very kind and tolerant person (41 years? she must be), but I will prise an honest answer out of her). Yes, there were dimples, more so in previous years; yes, there is sadness, more so of late, I suppose. Perhaps phpBB should allow us a slide-show for our personal pics, to show our various moods and aspects.
Allen (sad but happy), bka, London.
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Post by allenuk on Feb 21, 2010 8:13:23 GMT -7
Right, never mind the pic nonsense (whose idea was it anyway?).
Back to the hypnotherapy. I downloaded a 'Pain Release' set by Adam Eason, an English bloke I have listened to before. There is a lot of intellectualising about pain, which can be tedious but which I found useful - analysing the pain, its origins, etc. But the hypnosis sessions are very good.
One that I find particularly useful tries to access that bit of your brain which REMEMBERS your painful bit as NOT being painful - in my case, when I was on an epidural before and after the amputation. Adam Eason tries to help you FIND that memory, and then 'lock on' to it, so that when after the session your painful bit starts up, you can perform a very simple action (squeezing finger and thumb together, for instance), and bring back some of the relief you got from the original memory.
It does seem to be working, but as I've been housebound for the past few days with a bad head-cold (England oh England), it might be something to do with not going out for walks. But the idea seems sound, anyway.
I shall report back in a few days when my cold has gone and I can start walking again.
Allen, bka, London.
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Post by ameri78 on Feb 28, 2010 22:46:42 GMT -7
wish everything is best to you
did you ever hear the famous sailling crew ....er Blesma group
You are feeling crying (.....whisper...a little..) mabe
I am seriously thinking of it in relation to your socket pains,
feeling phantom pains.
I am not sure ..you are drinking
or have REALLY worked very hard getting your socket
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Post by allenuk on Mar 1, 2010 3:28:36 GMT -7
Can I have some? Not sure it does you any good, but it seems to keep the world at bay. Which is no bad thing.
So it goes.
Allen, kba, Noldon.
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