In Chronic Pain? You Might Need Psychotherapy

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Lots of therapy-helping-chronic pain stories here:
http://tmswiki.wetpaint.com/page/TMS+Success+Stories
Will Baum, LCSW
willbaum.com

Will of CA 3:04PM March 29, 2010

Body Mind Connection - The Power of an open mind. By JGjr
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I am now able to read and write today (2-17-10) with the help of medicine. I believe now I have a chance to connect the two and begin healing and managing my chronic pain.
Good luck with yours.
JGjr

Jgjr of IL 10:27AM February 18, 2010

I am, of course, delighted to hear that some people suffering from such serious issues as depression, infertility, cancer, and severe pain are somehow able to benefit from guided imagery. I doubt very much that that is true on an empirical basis, although it may be true that the calming effect it induces in many people and the ability to distract the mind from processing the pain does have a palliative effect.
However, I think it is misguided and wrong for a publication to suggest to people who suffer from these ailments that these treatments will benefit them and moreover, that it may be a "need." The title, "In Chronic Pain? You Might Need Psychotherapy" reinforces the notion that the pain and suffering those with these illnesses experience is effectively self-induced and can be cured by thinking about other things. It's offensive and irresponsible. The second part of the title should have been "You Might Benefit from Psychotherapy" although I don't think this sort of thing should be published by a legitimate publication. Those with serious illnesses have been stigmatized and given quack medicine throughout history because doctors are unable to actually treat their medical issues - they, naturally, then attribute these to psychological issues. It's time for doctors to stop telling people to "think differently" and start doing the R&D and spending time with their patients actually listening to symptoms and figuring out what the problems are.

Lucy of NY 10:19AM February 11, 2010

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Neitherevery of 10:14AM December 22, 2009

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Gliviavinty of AL 4:34AM August 27, 2009

Chronic pain is just Like insomnia,at the beginning you may suffer from insomnia because some affairs happen to you recently, but after u dealing with these affairs, you still can not fall asleep easily. This is because of the function of psychology.
Psychological intervention can mollify the negative feeling of your past pain, and make u feel less pressure.

Feizhi Wang 12:04PM June 12, 2009

I've been in chronic pain for over 3 years.
It's horrible and all the therapists I've seen have suggested I get on anti-depressants. Never advised on biofeedback, hypnosis, meditation-NOTHING.

Guy of NY 5:58PM March 06, 2009

I agree that many, if not all pain patients could benefit from psychotherapy. If being in chronic pain for years at a time—often while being told “it’s all in your head”--doesn’t drive you insane, nothing will!
The comments posted here testify to the extreme difficulty so many people with disc problems have. I was in the same boat myself, disabled for years by what turned out to be undiagnosed ruptured discs. The solution is to “test drive” doctor after doctor after doctor until you find one capable of treating your particular problem. A doctor is a service provider. If yours is not able to provide the service you need, you should have no qualms about moving on to another.
Bonnie Boots
www.PainHealthNews.com

Bonnie Boots of FL 1:52PM February 23, 2009

In 2002, I was the victim of an 10-car MVA (motor vehicle accident), was thrown from the vehicle, dragged and pinned underneath a car and landed on top of an exhaust. I received Multiple injuries; head (3), fx-L-shoulder, fx-pelvic (6-fxs), fx-rib, back (L4-L5), fx L-leg, and lots of scars, cuts and scratches. The pain has never stopped. I have received great medical treatment while in complete denial of the actual injuries that I received. I was trying to be the 'healthy' person that I was prior to the MVA. Today, I am ready to accept my new self, and say good bye to my past. I must find the best natural way to provide healing comfort to my aching bones. I have sought out the legal and medical specialist. Know that I was the seat beat wearing insured driver with full auto covereage; but now, (6 1/2 years later) the auto insurance co. is denying payment for medical treatment. Stating that my continued treatment with ortho, chiro, and plastic surgeon is not related to the MVA. So, my case is in litigation and I look forward to advising the insurance co. that my/their policy includes: PIP coverage; look it up if you are not aware of what benefits are supposed to be payable by the insurance company. In short, they are to pay all medical expenses related to the treatment of the accident injuries for life.

JFK of MI 12:45AM February 19, 2009

I had been severely injured in a traumatic accident and had multiple injuries. My back, legs, neck feet, etc. The Drs. worked on my back for 2 yrs. for the chronic pain, but I kept telling them that my left thigh was in a lot of pain. There answer was that it was referred pain from my back herniated disks (5 of them). I told them I didn't think so, because intitially a neurologist had told me it was caused by something called Meuralgia Parathesthetica of the left peripheral femor nerve and I had had nerve blocks which are placed under the left pelvic bone which had relieved the pain for about 3 days at a time. But when I had gone to the Univ. of CA at Urvine Med Cntr for follow-up treatment for the rest of med care, they ignored this. Now it was 2 yrs later and nothing had been done about the femor nerve. They had given up on my back and told me there was nothing else they could do to relieve my pain, I would just have to live with it, go home and accept it. I said no. Find me some one who can help me. They sent me to the Chief of Neurosurgery at the UCI Med. Cntr. He said he didn't understand why I was in so much pain and was going to send me home. I thought I must be a wimp. But then as an after thought he said he'd have his partner see me. His partner looked at me & knew the problem. Did surgery on the femor nerve. It was the original diagnosis of Meuralgia Paresthetica of the left peripheral femur nerve & he said it was the worst he had seen. The nerve was stretched, kinked & and extreme amount of scar tissue had entrapped the nerve. He said no wonder I was in so much pain. All the other doctors were looking in the wrong place! Thank God he knew what he was doing or I would have given up and suffered forever. Unfortunately, because it took 2 yrs to be resolved, there is permanent damage, but my leg muscle isn't constantly jerking & cramping $ spasming with charlie horses all the time like it was before & I can sit down for more than 5 min. a day, which I couldn't do for 2 yrs. I've been going thru chronic pain for 19 yrs. now...But it could have been worse, without Dr. Israel Chambi of UCI Med. Center, in Irvine, CA Thank you, doctor Chambi you saved my life! I have never forgotten you. :0)

C. J. Korb of CA 4:13AM February 14, 2009