You can imagine your pain away

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You can imagine your pain away

Asian News International

Washington, August 9

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_937467,0050.htm

 

A new study by researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical

Center, indicates that imagery, a simple method of distraction, can be

combined with pain medications to significantly reduce post-operative

pain.

 

The study, published in this month's issue of the journal 'Pain,' examined

the effectiveness of imagery and pain medications in reducing pain and

anxiety after surgery. The researchers found that using imagination to

reduce pain worked best with children.

 

During the study, they gave 73 children, who had just undergone minor

surgery, an audiotape that enabled them to imagine they were going to " a

favourite place. " The children who used the tape reported significantly

lower pain in the 24 hours after surgery than those who didn't use the

tape.

 

The researchers now believe that imagery and medication would be effective

in reducing anxiety during people's hospital stays and in distracting them

during most intrusive procedures. The study indicated that even when given

less than the recommended amounts of pain medication, children who used

imagery reported reduced pain.

 

" When treating pain in people, we should appeal not only to the senses but

also to feelings and emotions, pain medications should be used in

conjunction with comfort techniques. However, we still have work to do in

this area " says Myra Huth, PhD, RN, assistant vice president of nursing

research at Cincinnati Children's and the study's main author.