Hypnotherapy

[Guest]

I have a friend in treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In addition to chemo she is also receiving daily shots of a drug called Nuprigen, which appears to be causing severe headaches and muscle aches. The pain has been unrelenting and undimished for over a week now. Vicodan and muscle relaxers have been ineffective.

What alternative treatments might be helpful here? Is there anything that we as her care giving team can do to provide some measure of relief (ice packs, gentle massage etc?)

[Guest]

Dear Anonymous,
Using Hypnotherapy could be helpful. As a Hypnotherapist, in a case such as this, I would want to get a medical referral from the doctor first before treatment. Through the use of hypnosis, it is possible for the client to learn a variety of techniques that enable the client to have more control over the discomfort. Even with real pain, we say that 75% of it is emotional. So, if we could reduce the discomfort to 25%, wouldn't that be better? (and we begin to "reframe" as well, using 'discomfort' instead of 'pain' or 'ache.') Using a process that involves turning the discomfort down, with the use of an imaginary dail (like in volume control) is often very effective. My best wishes to your friend and for locating a good hypnotherapist in your area.
[quote] I have a friend in treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In addition to chemo, she is also receiving daily shots of a drug called Nuprigen, which appears to be causing severe headaches and muscle aches... [/quote]