Biofeedback teaches patients ways to relax and reduce stress. It enables you to control autonomic body functions like heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension. The medical profession divides pain into two categories, either acute or chronic. Pain from a burn, broken bone or following surgery falls into this category. Acute pain is temporary, lasting from a few seconds to several months, but goes away after the injury heals.
Chronic pain lasts anywhere from a few months to years.
It affects your lifestyle, work performance and contributes to depression. Chronic pain isn't just tough on the patient. Entire families suffer when someone they love is miserable. Group therapy is often helpful. At UCSF, a weekly two-hour session is offered.