It is always exciting and motivating to those interested in the possibilities (and fact) of hypnosis as adjunct medical modality when anecdotal evidence of hypnosis success in medical cases can be shared, as these tend to have an exceptional impact. Yet these cases also have the greatest danger of being written off by the uninformed and skeptical as "stories" or exaggerations because they tend to be "a friend of a friend", or "A colleague of mine had a client..." or better yet, "I remember reading in my training about..."
I would like to share my own very recent personal story of Achilles Tendon rupture. With the use of hypnosis, the recovery process time has been reduced by 50% and pain has been virtually non-existent. The ease of this healing journey has been truly empowering not only in my own sense of well-being but in my ability to demonstrate the effectiveness of hypnosis on medical issues in one situation ranging from severe injury, to surgical success and recovery to pain management and healing imagery.
On March 5, 2009 while working with dancers and actors from a local theater group (a hobby based on the career of my youth as a classically trained dancer and choreographer), a simple jump, much like one might make over a puddle, resulted in a massive rupture of the right Achilles tendon with complete separation from the calf muscle. The momentary initial shock of the injury was sharp pain as I collapsed to the floor. Fortunately, I knew exactly what had happened based on the sound and sensation and past experience with other severe muscle injuries, as well as professional dancer friends who had experienced this same injury in the past and had described it in horrifyingly graphic detail.
My first response, based on how I teach Pain Management hypnosis to both my clients and students was, "I know what this warning pain is. I am going NOW to get treatment. I no longer need the warning. If something else develops that needs attention I will allow a warning sensation that is tolerable." And I simply shut off the pain without a second thought. Within ten minutes of the injury, with my calf muscle completely retracted up to the back of my knee and my foot unable to move, I was pain-free and actually quite numb from the knee down. My ride to the emergency room with a friend who was there was actually focused more on the production we were involved in rather than the injury.
The emergency room physicians confirmed what I thought to be the problem and placed me in temporary cast directing me to a surgeon the next day. The following morning, I met with my Orthopedic Surgeon, who scheduled me for surgery 4 days later and wrapped the lower leg in a method called a "Double Jones" wrap. I remained free of pain and in fact, on March 8, two days before the surgery, I attended a rehearsal with the theater group to continue working with them, knowing I might need to take several days off from the production post-surgery. Granted, I was not on my feet much, but I hobbled about on crutches when needed.
The surgical plan and recovery process was set up in the following way: Surgery on March 10, followed by ten days in the "Big Cast", two more weeks in a second cast forcing further flexion of the repaired tendon and muscle all with no weight bearing; if the desired healing was accomplished with that cast, it would be followed by three to four weeks in an orthopedic walking boot to be worn 24 hours a day starting out locked with my ankle at a 90 degree angle.
On March 10, I had an extremely successful surgery, which I had hypnotically prepared myself for using all the usual suggestions for vital signs being normal, need for minimal anesthetic, blood flow and bruising minimization and rapid recovery with appropriate thirst and hunger following surgery among other things.
An interesting twist to this story is that I chose NOT to use hypnoanesthesia, a technique for which I am fully qualified, for the surgery or push to use it. I preferred to let the experts work and I would simply focus on bending into the surgery and assisting MY surgical team. The Anesthesiologist had recommended twilight sleep with a simple nerve block to the leg rather than having to put me completely out. The twist came when the nerve block was in place and they tested my legs, I was still able to feel sensation in both of them equally so the decision was made to use general anesthetic, which I supported fully and quite honestly preferred at that moment.
When I awoke, I was extremely comfortable and felt ready to leave and was extremely comfortable and alert. I was discharged shortly after with a pain pump inserted into the nerve block and told to eat very lightly because I would risk becoming ill. Since I had covered that item in my hypnotic preparation and had not eaten in about 18 hours I was not concerned and my first meal post surgery was sitting comfortably at my family dinner table. We had chicken fettuccini alfredo with Italian bread and a large salad. I felt WONDERFUL and free of any pain or nausea.
As a side note: Two days post surgery I was feeling fine and well enough to go to rehearsal but was forbidden by the production's director but I did return on the 5th day and have not missed a rehearsal since.
Ironically the only pain I experienced through the entire post-surgical process was a day and a half later when one of my movements must have slightly dislodged the proper placement of the nerve block line and rather than delivering a drip of analgesia it was actually irritating the nerve to my lower leg. For 12 hours overnight I was in searing pain that I could momentarily lessen with hypnosis but would always return. This is the key to Hypnoanesthesia when properly accomplished; if something NEEDS attention there will be a warning sign to let you know it needs to be addressed, Since this particular issue was indeed in need of attention and was directly to a main nerve, the sensation was not the usual minor sensation I suggest and program for my clients. Demonstrating perfectly that hypnosis cannot completely override the body's need to protect itself if the hypnosis could result in further harm or there is a real physiological need. I had the distinct idea that the problem was the pain pump line and called the anesthesiologist's office to tell them of the problem and they assured me it was not the pain pump. 12 hours after this began when the pump beeped to let me know it was empty and time to remove it, I had the line out within moments and within 1 minute of having removed the line; I was again completely free of any discomfort. If I should ever have to face this type of situation again I will know better and will remove the line at the first indication that it was not doing the intended job.
The saga continues and ten days out, I returned to the surgeon for a check and to have the second smaller cast placed on my leg. I explained that I had been pain-free and feeling great and when they removed the "Big Cast" the doctor was amazed at how clean and healed the incision was and how free of swelling, bruising or any post-operative problem I was. The fact was that I had range of movement past the range they aim for with the second cast and further still than what they require to put a patient into the walking boot. The result, I was given the walking boot and told to adjust the range of motion in the supports as I saw fit as long as I was not experiencing any unreasonable discomfort. I was to return in two weeks for a recheck to see how much longer I would use the boot.
April 10, two week check-up following the boot. My use of hypnosis has kept me free of pain through the entire process and has returned me to a range of motion greater than that of an uninjured, average person. I was sent from the doctor's office with a referral for physical therapy for strengthening and told I no longer had to use the boot. This freedom was granted on the day I would have possibly been getting the walking boot for the first time if the planned second cast had done its intended job. Recovery in half the time expected!
Now, this is not a Hypnosis is a magic wand story. I assure you I am walking gingerly, but this is more as a protective caution and as a result of some natural loss of muscle tone and strength over the past month of restricted movement. And let's face it, my leg muscle was ripped from my ankle tendon and then trimmed and stitched back together. And while it is not magic, it is certainly magical to know I work in a field and teach the techniques that allow such remarkable things to happen through the power of the mind and the desire to allow the body to heal naturally and in concert with your medical team.
This is not some story I heard or read, this is my story and it is completely documented. Hypnosis Works!
Many Blessings,
James Duncan, CHt
www.DuncanHypnotherapy.com
President – Infinity Institute International
A State Licensed School of Hypnosis
www.InfinityInst.com
