ARTICLE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT

[Guest guest]

Yoga, Meditation Relieve Chronic Pain: <<Pain is as inevitable as death, but

most people try to avoid it at all costs. To help people with chronic pain

(pain which lasts 6 months or longer), a psychologist at Texas Tech Health

Sciences Center has developed a program combining both yoga and meditation

with remarkable results. More than 80% of the participants reported more

effective stress and pain management. Pat Randolph, Ph.D., director of

Psychology Services in the Pain Center at TTUHSC, began a pain/stress

management program nearly seven years ago which uses meditation and yoga

exercises in coordination with medical and psychological treatments. Randolph

followed the progress of 67 chronic pain patients who used the program in

addition to medical and psychological intervention. He found that, among

patients who used meditation practices to self-regulate pain, 78% reported an

improvement in subjective mood; 80% said their ability to handle stress

improved, and 86% reported higher awareness of internal thought and feeling

states. Also, 98% indicated that they had learned something of lasting value

from the program. " What we know about the definition of pain is that it is a

complex interaction between sensations, thoughts, and feelings or emotions. So

when we treat pain, we need to utilize both medical and psychological

methods, " said Randolph. The program is based on Theravada Buddhism, an

Eastern doctrine that assumes suffering and stress to be part of life, but can

be relieved through awareness and letting go of expectations. " It's based on

Eastern meditative practices, but it's devoid of religious underpinnings, "

Randolph added. For more information, please contact the Texas Tech Health

Sciences Center at

(806) 743-2143. >>

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Address:http://www.altmedicine.com/app/registeruser.cfm

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FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA,

ray

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

As yoga teacher I can definately agree with that report. Yoga and

meditation can give us powerful tools to deal with pain and stress. They

are not the only way, but are very effective. I could not imagine doing

without.

Ute Reeves

RA 3/98 AP 5/98