Ankylosing spondylitis and hypnosis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease that affects 2.4 million people in the United States. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily causes pain and inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae of the spine and the joints between the spine and the pelvis (sacroiliac joints). However, ankylosing spondylitis also it can cause inflammation and pain in other parts of the body as well. ” Iritis, a painful inflammation of the eye, is a symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.

The American Spondylitis Association has designated April as Spondylitis Awareness Month. This disease is almost unknown to most, even doctors. The SAA states that “spondylitis is difficult to diagnose, it often takes up to 10 years from the moment a patient experiences the first symptoms to the moment the patient receives the proper diagnosis.”

As someone who has experienced ankylosing spondylitis and iritis firsthand on a regular basis for over 25 years, I understand the struggle to receive a proper diagnosis. Lying in bed, unable to move, with stiff spine and rib cage, having to have someone quickly lift him up by the arms to a sitting position, while screaming in pain, yes, I already have. It is at these times that family members remember that you have ankylosing spondylitis. Another time is when iritis flares up. The pain in the eye is excruciating. An immediate visit to the ophthalmologist is required. You learn very quickly to have steroid eye drops on hand!

So what can be done to alleviate these painful symptoms? Medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), DMARDS (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) and biologics also called TNF blockers are prescribed to the patient. Exercise, physical therapy, good posture practices, and the application of heat / cold to relax muscles and reduce joint pain are also suggestions. But after years of tackling my body with all the drugs, I felt there had to be something less toxic. I visit my chiropractor regularly, which I think has helped me stay agile. I was still looking for something else.

As a professional counselor and hypnotherapist, I have been helping clients talk and visualize their way through many ailments. After a painful attack occurred to me, why am I not doing the same for myself? Then I set out to create a hypnotic guided imagery cd to soothe my aching spine and rib cage. I wrote and recorded my first draft. After listening to the CD a few nights, I added it. Then I had a “test”, another person with ankylosing spondylitis, listen. He reported that it helped him with his pain. WELL DONE! Now I have the CD with more “testers” from all over the United States. “Soothing ankylosing spondylitis” is the bottom line.

“Hypnosis has undergone a great deal of scientific testing in modern times. When used properly, hypnosis has proven to be an effective tool in pain management and pain perception. Hypnosis is an easy procedure to administer that does not have profound or long-lasting side effects, yet most clinicians ignore its efficacy rather than more traditional methods “(Marc Marcuse, University of California).

Hypnosis is not a cure for ankylosing spondylitis, however it can be used to alleviate the painful symptoms of this disease. By relaxing your muscles and focusing your awareness on where the images are leading you, the listener may experience less painful symptoms. NASA has shown that breaking subconscious patterns requires 30 to 60 days of brain training. As with most hypnotic guided imagery CDs, the listener is encouraged to listen to the CD at least once a day for 30 days.

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