Pain Relief From Acupuncture, Meditation, Hypnosis, and Relaxation Techniques

Some people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy find relief from nerve pain in surprisingly simple ways. Sometimes a nice warm (but not hot) bath is enough to relieve stress and nerve pain. A massage can also help. Other people turn to biofeedback, meditation, relaxation techniques, or hypnosis - all of which have been proven to help.

"These methods of alternative medicine have shown tremendous promise," says Tom Elasy, MD, director of the Diabetes Clinic at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "I have many patients who have pursued alternative approaches, and I get very positive feedback about the results."

Biofeedback to Relieve Pain from Peripheral Neuropathy

It is possible, through biofeedback, to train your body to decrease the severity of nerve pain. This involves consciously controlling a body function that is normally regulated by the body - like skin temperature, heart rate, or blood pressure.

It may sound like science fiction, but evidence of the benefits of biofeedback is quite good. It's been used to help control migraine pain, epilepsy seizures, high blood pressure, and other common problems.

How does it work? You wear sensors on your head and elsewhere that let you "hear" or "see" certain bodily functions like pulse, digestion, body temperature, and muscle tension. The squiggly lines and/or beeps on the attached monitors reflect what's going on inside your body. Then you learn to control those beeps and squiggles. After a few sessions, your mind has trained your biological system to learn the skills. It is not hard to master, say experts.

Meditation to Relieve Pain From Peripheral Neuropathy

Meditation is a therapy offered in many pain treatment centers. Research shows that meditation can lower blood pressure and improve heart rate, breathing, and brain waves. Tension and tightness seep from muscles as the body receives a quiet message to relax.

The soothing power of repetition is at the heart of meditation. Focusing on the breath, ignoring thoughts, and repeating a word or phrase - a mantra - makes the body relax. People describe feeling warmth, calm, even a sense of heaviness while they meditate.

While you can learn meditation on your own, it helps to take a class. A teacher can guide you - and help you reach that deeper, more relaxed state.

Relaxation Techniques to Relieve Pain From Peripheral Neuropathy

Stress can make pain worse, so it is important to learn to relax. Your breathing pattern is often affected by changes in your emotions. That's why managing your breathing is an important tool for relaxation. By becoming familiar with your own breathing patterns, you can learn to control your breathing and your stress level, and your pain as well.

First, find a quiet location, a comfortable body position, and a good state of mind. Try to block out worries and distracting thoughts.

Relaxation techniques include:

• Rhythmic breathing: Take long, slow breaths. Inhale slowly, then exhale slowly. Count slowly to five as you inhale. Then count slowly to five as you exhale. Pay attention to how your body naturally relaxes. This will help you relax even more.
• Deep breathing: Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon.
• Visualized breathing: Find a comfortable place where you can close your eyes. Picture relaxation entering your body - and tension leaving your body. Breathe deeply, but in a natural rhythm. Visualize your breath coming into your nostrils, going into your lungs. Picture it expanding your chest and abdomen. Then, visualize your breath going out the same way. Each time you exhale, imagine you are getting ride of a little more tension.
• Relax to music: Put on some music that lifts your mood and that you find soothing and calming. There are specially designed relaxation audio tapes or CDs that are perfect for this.
• Mental imagery relaxation: This is also called guided imagery. It is a form of "mental escape" in which you create calming, peaceful images in your mind. You also identify your self-talk - your thoughts about your illness - and focus on positive thoughts and emotions.