Burn injuries are a frequent form of shock, the care for which typically involves repeated, intrusive procedures and acute, excruciating levels of pain. Although research in the use of hypnosis with burn persons is largely anecdotal there is emerging evidence that the burn unit may be one of the most useful arenas for the clinical application of this technique. The acute, identifiable nature of burn care procedures and the emotional state of patients in shock care both provide an often receptive setting for the use of this intervention.

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Burn injuries are often considered to be one of the most physically and emotionally damaging experiences an individual may endure. Because of this, more help options for managing pain and distress during burn wound debridement are needed. When used in combination with traditional thelp, hypnosis may offer professionals  options for meeting the needs of persons with burn wounds. Some article offers a critical review of the literature currently available on the efficacy of hypnosis for managing pain and distress during wound debridement and offers suggestions for an improved methodology for future trials.

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In addition to being extremely painful, burn injuries also result in severe emotional distress, with individuals commonly reporting feelings of bitterness, mistrust, deep sadness, anxiety and poor body image. Previous research has indicated that a reciprocal relationship may exist between signs of emotional distress and burn pain. Therefore, it is imperative that victims are offered help options that alleviate distress in both sign areas. However, offering persons adequate care is difficult, due to the fact that pain levels do not gradually decrease after the initial injury-causing event. Instead, dead, damaged, and infected tissue must repeatedly be removed throughout the course of treatment in a process known as wound debridement. Many individuals indicate that this procedure is actually more painful than the initial injury, provoking extreme anxiety.

However, three central limitations of this form of help have been noted. First, pain levels are often so intense that treatment do not offer sufficient relief. Additionally, treatment can elicit unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects, such as respiratory problem. Finally, the necessity of frequent wound debridement limits the usefulness of anesthesia. When these limitations are combined with the fact that neither treatment nor anesthesia offer a long-term solution for helping patients manage emotional distress, it becomes clear that additional help options are needed.

 

Hypnosis may be one such help option, as it has proven effective in reducing the pain and emotional distress brought about by a number of uncomfortable procedures. 

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Our Hypnotist Charbel Ramia is specialized in Hypnosis for Pain And Chronic Pain Control and he is ready to work with your doctor to help you.

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