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Hypnosis As A Therapy for Chronic Lower Back Pain

  • Alternative Treatments for Pain Medicine (M Jones, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic lower back pain is a crippling condition for the individual and a significant burden on society. It is notoriously challenging to manage despite access to invasive interventions. Understanding hypnosis as a powerful therapeutic adjunct to this condition allows holistic treatment of patients in distress.

Recent Findings

In addition to classic etiologies of chronic lower back pain, hypnosis has proven to be beneficial in chronic back pain caused by pregnancy, diabetic and HIV neuropathy. Combination of hypnosis with other mind–body techniques such as olfactory stimulation, music therapy and patient education offers further promise to this treatment modality.

Summary

Our review provides a run-through of the fundamental mechanisms of hypnosis in moderating chronic back pain, its quantifiable benefits, its novel areas of use and its potentials in the future based on the most recent and relevant peer-reviewed literature in order to guide clinicians to better deploy this valuable resource.

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References

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  1. Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Qing Zhao Ruan

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Grant H. Chen

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Ruan, Q.Z., Chen, G.H. Hypnosis As A Therapy for Chronic Lower Back Pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep 26, 65–71 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01004-2

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