Pain Management

HILE the presence of pain has value and purpose, serving to warn us when something has gone amock either within or from something externally, having served its purpose and is no longer necessary, methods of pain management are available for relief. It goes without saying, however, that the total elimination of pain would remove a vital system from our being. Its removal would result in heightened vulnerablities to unperceived dangers in our environment, either within or without. Pain is a necessary part of our lives.

This especially applies to acute pain, which is the kind we experience when we accidentally slice our finger with a knife, get burned, fracture a bone, etc. This pain causes us, at the subconscious level, to jerk ourselves away from whatever is causing the pain, such as a hot pan or a sharp object. Pain is the warning system that aids in our physical congruity with the environment we are in, keeping us out of harm's way.

This also applies to chronic pain -- at first. This pain also lets us know that something inside of us is out of order. However, there comes a time when pain has served its purpose and pain control becomes necessary.

Mostly attributed to the kind of social conditioning we receive (mass media, etc) when it comes to controlling pain, most of us choose to run to the doctor who prescribes medications designed to reduce or eliminate the pain. There are alternative healing solutions for pain management.

Pain does not come from the source that caused it, but rather from within. Interestingly, sometimes we may injure ourself in some way but not know that the injury has occurred -- until we become aware, through our vision or other senses, of the damage. A cut on our finger provides a good example. We have not experienced any pain -- until we become aware of it, then it begins to hurt.

Before the days of anesthesia, the medical profession learned about the effectiveness of hypnosis to minimize or eradicate pain. The body and mind together produce pain in reaction to whatever adversity is bringing harm to the body. Pain can be controlled without medications. The professionals from bygone days were aware that pain could be affectively controlled through relaxation and positive suggestion. Hypnotherapy, properly administered, is a highly affective pain relief alternative.