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Neuroplastix website - a great resource to give hope for tms sufferers?

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by stradivarius, Jul 6, 2017.

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  1. stradivarius

    stradivarius Peer Supporter

    Hi everyone. I stumbled across the Neuroplastix website which is about an education programme for reducing chronic pain devised by scientists, one of whom overcame his own pain using visualisation techniques. There seems to be some overlap between the neuroplastix approach and the tms approach, particularly around using belief to help overcome pain. I found that this quote from the website is giving me real hope:

    "Low expectation of pain control on the part of patients and providers leads to poor pain control. Settling for any improvement is not enough. Patients state clearly that they are always going to have pain, always need to be on medication and always be limited because of this pain. Providers set low expectations of pain relief. Statements are made to patients that they will have to learn to live with their pain and the best they can hope is to manage it. The provider-patient relationship is a powerful example of the social synapse, the connection between people involving mirror neurons and the highest Associational centers of the brain. As such, the words passed from provider to patient strongly determine patient beliefs. As belief centers in the sensory part of the brain become dominated by the expectation of pain, nerve cells in those belief centers are taken over by pain processing. The belief in the inevitability of pain expands the pain map in the sensory cortex where beliefs are born.

    The process of healing starts by embracing the core belief that patients can be pain free. Providers need to believe that their patients can be free of persistent pain. They must continue to try new approaches to achieve this goal. The traditional model of care changes here. Patients become partners with their providers, rather than passive recipients of care."

    And also :

    "Do not settle for partial pain control. Stabilizing out of control pain is essential, but so is the belief that we can end pain persistence. Remember that all beliefs require a leap of faith at some point. This is that point. This cannot be a thinly held belief, but must be unshakable. Your pain will try to shake it over and over and you must teach your brain and your body that it is the belief and experience of abnormal pain that is to be disbelieved.

    Do not give into your fear. This must be actively rejected. Believe that you can rebuild your pain tolerance and increase your pain threshold. Tell your brain and peripheral body to wait until the pain becomes much worse before they recognize it is there. Break the pain down to its other components, pressure, movement, vibration, position, temperature, touch. Do not be afraid of your pain. Look at it as information provided by your body, and treat it as an opportunity to practice to overcome it."

    I find all of that very reassuring coming from an approach to pain that is based on neuroscience.

    I hope that helps you guys!

    Sx
     
    Lunarlass66 and Joan like this.

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