GenesForLife wrote:

Weaver wrote:

GenesForLife wrote:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23845031

A female patient with multiple chemical sensitivity and previous anaphylactoid reactions to local anaesthetics was admitted for removal of a thigh skin tumour under hypnosis as sole anaesthesia. The hypnotic protocol included hypnotic focused analgesia and a pre-operative pain threshold test. After inducing hypnosis, a wide excision was performed, preserving the deep fascia, and the tumour was removed; the patient's heart rate and blood pressure did not increase during the procedure. When the patient was de-hypnotised, she reported no pain and was discharged immediately. Our case confirms the efficacy of hypnosis and demonstrates that it may be valuable as a sole anaesthetic method in selected cases. Hypnosis can prevent pain perception and surgical stress as a whole, comparing well with anaesthetic drugs.
© 2013 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

Single case, not a comparative study. Relaxation techniques have been proven effective for pain management, so I'm not surprised that this "hypnosis" is effective as well - and other literature suggests that hypnotherapy (stated as a combination of relaxation techniques and cognitive-behavioral therapy) were effective for chronic pain management.

Still not an indicator that there's anything to "hypnosis" beyond relaxation techniques.

I'd like to see you demonstrate that bog standard relaxation is, even in isolated cases, as effective as/comparable to anaesthetics.

J Adv Nurs. 1998 Mar;27(3):466-75.
Relaxation techniques for acute pain management: a systematic review.
Seers K, Carroll D.
Author information
Abstract
This review aims to document the effectiveness of relaxation techniques, when used alone for the management of acute pain, after surgery and during procedures. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was undertaken. Seven studies involving 362 patients were eligible for this review. One hundred and fifty patients received active relaxation as the sole intervention. Reports were sought by searching MEDLINE, psycLIT, CINAHL, and the Oxford Pain Relief Database. The outcome measures used were pain and psychological factors. A meta-analysis was not possible, due to lack of primary data. Three of the seven studies demonstrated significantly less pain sensation and or pain distress in those who had relaxation. Four studies did not detect any difference. There was some weak evidence to support the use of relaxation in acute pain. However, this was not conclusive and many of both the positive and the negative studies suffered from methodological inadequacies. Well designed and executed randomized controlled trials are needed before the clinical use of relaxation in acute pain management can be firmly underpinned by good quality research evidence. Until this evidence is available we recommend that the clinical use of relaxation in acute pain settings is carefully evaluated and not used as the main treatment for the management of acute pain.

trubble76 wrote:Does hypnotherapy use hypnosis or not? I was under the impression that both the medical and the entertainment versions use hypnosis, is this being disputed or not?

Aern Rakesh wrote:

trubble76 wrote:Does hypnotherapy use hypnosis or not? I was under the impression that both the medical and the entertainment versions use hypnosis, is this being disputed or not?

Hypnotherapists use all kinds of techniques, e.g. NLP and various relaxation/meditation techniques. I know a hypnotherapist who puts smokers through intense questioning before she'll take them on because unless they are determined to give up there's nothing she can do, no 'post-hypnotic' magic spell that will help.

GenesForLife wrote:I'm sorry, Weaver, but that study has nowt to do with anaesthesia.

his review aims to document the effectiveness of relaxation techniques, when used alone for the management of acute pain, after surgery and during procedures.

THWOTH wrote:I wouldn't volunteer for a trial like that. if someone's going to slice me open and root around I don't want to know anything about it.

Agrippina wrote:

THWOTH wrote:I wouldn't volunteer for a trial like that. if someone's going to slice me open and root around I don't want to know anything about it.

I have a pathological fear of general anaesthetics so when I needed to have my lady parts removed, I opted for a spinal one. I passed out because I didn't like the feeling of my innards being moved around. Now I regret that I didn't ask them to remove my appendix while I was in there because now it's complaining and I'm going to have to deal with that fear again. I don't think I'd have the nerve to try hypnosis. I'm going to have to go through the whole "I'll die under a GA" discussion again.

Weaver wrote:I don't think anyone has suggested hypnosis or relaxation in place of general anesthesia - only for management of local pain associated with superficial procedures.

THWOTH wrote:

Agrippina wrote:

THWOTH wrote:I wouldn't volunteer for a trial like that. if someone's going to slice me open and root around I don't want to know anything about it.

I have a pathological fear of general anaesthetics so when I needed to have my lady parts removed, I opted for a spinal one. I passed out because I didn't like the feeling of my innards being moved around. Now I regret that I didn't ask them to remove my appendix while I was in there because now it's complaining and I'm going to have to deal with that fear again. I don't think I'd have the nerve to try hypnosis. I'm going to have to go through the whole "I'll die under a GA" discussion again.

Things have moved on apace though Aggie. My daughter had her bloated appendix removed by keyhole surgery two years ago, and was left with three small incisions and was able to go surfing two weeks after. Ask for a strong sedative and a local and you wont notice a thing, or even care - it'l be fine.

Weaver wrote:I don't think anyone has suggested hypnosis or relaxation in place of general anesthesia - only for management of local pain associated with superficial procedures.

trubble76 wrote:

Aern Rakesh wrote:

trubble76 wrote:Does hypnotherapy use hypnosis or not? I was under the impression that both the medical and the entertainment versions use hypnosis, is this being disputed or not?

Hypnotherapists use all kinds of techniques, e.g. NLP and various relaxation/meditation techniques. I know a hypnotherapist who puts smokers through intense questioning before she'll take them on because unless they are determined to give up there's nothing she can do, no 'post-hypnotic' magic spell that will help.

Could you clarify for me, I didn't quite get your answer. Are you saying that the hypnotherapists do use hypnosis or not?

THWOTH wrote:

Agrippina wrote:

THWOTH wrote:I wouldn't volunteer for a trial like that. if someone's going to slice me open and root around I don't want to know anything about it.

I have a pathological fear of general anaesthetics so when I needed to have my lady parts removed, I opted for a spinal one. I passed out because I didn't like the feeling of my innards being moved around. Now I regret that I didn't ask them to remove my appendix while I was in there because now it's complaining and I'm going to have to deal with that fear again. I don't think I'd have the nerve to try hypnosis. I'm going to have to go through the whole "I'll die under a GA" discussion again.

Things have moved on apace though Aggie. My daughter had her bloated appendix removed by keyhole surgery two years ago, and was left with three small incisions and was able to go surfing two weeks after. Ask for a strong sedative and a local and you wont notice a thing, or even care - it'l be fine.

Weaver wrote:

THWOTH wrote:

Agrippina wrote:

THWOTH wrote:I wouldn't volunteer for a trial like that. if someone's going to slice me open and root around I don't want to know anything about it.

I have a pathological fear of general anaesthetics so when I needed to have my lady parts removed, I opted for a spinal one. I passed out because I didn't like the feeling of my innards being moved around. Now I regret that I didn't ask them to remove my appendix while I was in there because now it's complaining and I'm going to have to deal with that fear again. I don't think I'd have the nerve to try hypnosis. I'm going to have to go through the whole "I'll die under a GA" discussion again.

Things have moved on apace though Aggie. My daughter had her bloated appendix removed by keyhole surgery two years ago, and was left with three small incisions and was able to go surfing two weeks after. Ask for a strong sedative and a local and you wont notice a thing, or even care - it'l be fine.

Indeed - a combination of laparoscopic surgery, local anesthetics, and some quite lovely amnesiac agents like Versed administered with a narcotic like Fentanyl can mean that you aren't totally anesthetized, but have overall sedation and no memory of the event, though you are a little conscious throughout.