09/02/2023
This one is quite a long post, but hopefully a useful one to share around, particularly for those struggling with Phantom Limb Pain.
The Amputee Society of Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Districts Inc recently released their Summer newsletter UNLIMBITED in which was an article on Phantom Pain featuring our very own Danyel Degenhardt. The article is below, along with links to the video of Danyel's presentation at the Amputee Federation of NZ Jubilee Conference.
Please share this far and wide. You may be surprised by the results for those experiencing phantom limb pain.
Struggling with Phantom Pain?
Rethink Phantom Pain
Phantom Limb Pain affects up to 87% of amputees at some point in their life. And yet, most amputees will notice phantom sensations even if they don’t experience pain. Since the part of the body is physically not there, it can be a challenge to treat. Research in the neuroscience of hypnosis shows promising results to reduce, or even eliminate phantom pain rapidly. Reg Collier, an above knee amputee, recently experienced the benefits of hypnosis to eliminate this phantom pain.
“My story began in 2014 when I went in for a knee replacement,” Reg says. “By December 2014 it was obvious something was wrong. They opened up my leg and gave it a wash out, the infection stayed, and after repeating this a number of times the surgeon decided to replace the parts. They did this but the infection remained. After countless wash outs and a further parts replacement, in December 2020 my leg was amputated above the knee. I thought that would be the end of all the pain and long hospital stays, but hadn't counted on the pain in my non-existent leg. It was like wearing a tight metal boot, with my toes so squashed that it was unbearable. The only thing the doctors could offer were drugs. For almost two years these pains had been attacking me. I first saw Danyel at the Rethink Pain Physiotherapy clinic in Whakatane a number of weeks ago. I no longer have phantom pain. It’s the best thing I have ever done.”
“For all those out there that suffer from phantom pain, this is like a magic cure,” Reg stated. “For me the cure was instant. I just hope that the message gets out to as many people as possible. No one should suffer when there is a way. It's fast and doesn't rely on drugs or mirrors.I hope health professionals will recognize the importance of these techniques, and start to use hypnosis to help people heal.I’m so glad the Amputee Society let me know about this.”
How does someone heal from an experience of phantom pain?
“First, acknowledge that the pain is real,” says Danyel Degenhardt, the Hypno Physio from Rethink Pain Physiotherapy. “Just because your hand or foot was amputated and physically not there, it doesn’t mean the area in the brain related that part of the body magically disappears.” Danyel advises his clients experiencing phantom pain to talk about the pain as if the hand or foot exists. There’s nothing about the term “phantom pain” that makes it seem easy to heal from. And yet if you describe it as a stiff joint with sharp pain, you can do something about it. You can then begin to regain the function in slow and gentle ways. “If someone rolls their ankle, they go to a physio to provide them exercises that progressively regain their movement. The benefit of a Hypno Physio approach is we exercise the mind and body to rapidly integrate your amputated limb and your brain.”
Here are a few tips to improve the function of your amputated limb.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine moving the affected body part. If you flinch, you’ve gone too far. Practice little and often through the day.
Use heat. A blanket or hot water bottle may seem strange to put over your affected foot or hand, but it can help to promote movement and reduce pain as if it was there.
Learn self-hypnosis to get into a relaxed and focused state in order to visualize the movement more easily and effectively. When you can move more freely, you will experience less pain.
Danyel Degenhardt trains Hypno Physios across New Zealand to exercise the mind and body of their clients. If you want to find out how a Hypno Physio approach can help you, watch Danyel’s presentation “Rethink Phantom Pain: Amputee Federation of NZ Jubilee Conference presentation.” in the video below. In the recorded presentation you’ll have the opportunity to take part in a hypnosis demonstration that can help improve how you feel.
Do you experience phantom pain or sensation?Or maybe you treat clients who do?If so, this presentation is for you.You will learn the neuroscience of what cre...
