Use these techniques to reduce the discomfort of chronic back pain
Chronic back pain can be a debilitating, life-altering problem, causing depression and the inability to enjoy your life. Let's look at some ways you can get some measure of control over chronic back pain.
We assume that you have already pursued obvious strategies such as medical evaluation, full diagnostic workup, and use of pain medications, rest and exercise as indicated by your medical professional. If this description fits you, you may benefit from another approach to your chronic back pain.
Chronic back pain (and chronic pain) researchers have discovered that a big part of how we experience chronic back pain has to do with how our brain processes the pain signals. This means that by changing your brain's perception of the pain, you can change the way you experience the pain.
Try to control your chronic back pain by using this series of directed techniques:
1. Sit down or lie down as comfortably as possible.
2. Begin slow, deep breathing, concentrating of inhaling fully and exhaling fully. Some people find it helpful to concentrate on a word like "inhale" while breathing in and "exhale" while breathing out.
After two or three minutes of deep breathing, you are ready to begin controlling your chronic back pain by changing your brain's perception of the sensation. Try the following:
* Sometimes chronic back pain is made up of a combination of sensations such as burning, tingling, and throbbing. Focus on one sensation and try to get rid of it mentally.
* Try to make the chronic back pain separate from your body then send it away.
* Imagine injecting an anesthetic into the area of chronic back pain and feel the pain diminish.
* Imagine a time when you did not have chronic back pain and try to live as if you were back in that time.
These meditative methods do not treat the chronic back pain but they do change the way your brain understands the pain and can be very effective. It may take practice to become skilled at reaching a meditative state then altering the pain signals. Try it; you will be surprised at the amount of control you can have over your chronic back pain.
