A recent study at one BMT center found that patients who used relaxation and imagery techniques during treatment reported less pain due to mouth sores than other BMT patients. Hypnosis Forget the image of a Houdini-like character who induces a trance by swinging a pocket watch in front of a patient's face. Modern day hypnosis is neither sinister nor mysterious, and does not allow someone else to take control of your mind. For example, hypnosis may help enable a patient to envision the painful area of the body as a separate, unconnected part, or to shorten the patient's perception of how long the painful experience lasts. It's best taught by an experienced clinician who knows a variety of other approaches to pain management besides hypnosis, and may be supplemented by a variety of excellent books on self-hypnosis.
Some people have an easier time using hypnosis than others.
Children, as a group, appear to be more hypnotizable than adults since they are less reality-bound and more willing to engage in fantasy. A study by Syrjala et al at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found hypnosis helped some BMT patients better manage the pain associated with mouth sores. To locate a therapist in your area who's skilled in hypnosis, contact the Department of Behavioral Medicine at a cancer center near you. Physical Stimulation Suffering is triggered by pain signals transmitted through the nervous system and spinal cord to the brain. One way to short-circuit or mask these pain signals is by providing a different, competing physical sensation.