Patients are encouraged to listen to the tapes preoperatively and postoperatively to support the recovery process. Hypnosis is used by many of our patients to help manage anxiety, depression, and, most importantly, pain. In our program, a hypnotherapist leads a patient through several steps of progressive relaxation. Although each hypnosis script is specifically designed to meet the particular needs and issues of the individual patient, during a typical session, the hypnotherapist will suggest that there will very little pain after the surgery or that the patient's spirits and attitude will be high and energetic. Hypnosis sessions are recorded on audiotape and patients are encouraged to listen to them before and after surgery.
Most people believe that nutrition is a pillar to recovery of health.
Massage therapy has been effective in relaxing patients as well as their family members during stressful episodes at the hospital. All massages are performed by licensed massage therapists, using various manipulative techniques that stimulate muscles. For those patients in whom body massage is contraindicated, reflexology is offered. Reflexology is the manual stimulation of the hands and feet. We use a modified yoga routine to prevent injury to the sternum or manubrium in recent operated upon patients.