Monday, August 13, 2012

Talked out of causing debilitating pain to yourself

Your low-back ache can be considerably aggravated by your thoughts and notions. Try a bit of CBT, and you might just be talked out of causing debilitating pain to yourself

Dr. H.S. Chhabra, Chief of Spine Service & Medical Director, explains, “Cognitive-behavioural therapy can change the way our mind influences our body. When we shift our thinking away from the pain and change our focus to more positive aspects of life, we change the way our body responds to the anticipated pain and stress.” CBT is usually used to treat anxiety, substance abuse, personality, eating and psychotic disorders. “How we think and respond to pain can contribute to the perception and perpetuation of pain. If we take it negatively, i.e. panic at the thought of pain, it can trigger physical changes like muscles spasm. The spasm in turn generates more pain, which in turn increases the spasm. This can thus set-in a vicious cycle increasing the pain even when the stimulus remains the same. However, if we think positively, this cycle does not set in and the pain does not increase,” asserts Dr. H.S. Chhabra. He further explains, “Cognitive-behavioural therapy for back pain has generally three components: Understanding that thoughts and behaviour play a central role in how we experience pain; Learning skills, such as relaxation techniques, to help reduce muscle tension and divert attention from the pain; And applying these skills in every day life.” The whole exercise is aimed at helping people to get back to enjoyable activities and finding relief from their pain.

Back pain is one of the most common ailments, which cuts across sections of society, and affects from the office-goer to the neighbourhood milkman. When it is caused by an infection, cancer or an injury, there is need for serious steps, but for other cases, acupuncture and yoga have been noted to be helpful. Though talking yourself out of pain has to be the simplest solution yet!


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