Pain Management

   Mind-body pain management includes a series of techniques which teach people, who have pain conditions, to reduce pain sensation and awareness of pain.  These techniques can be used alone or together with medical pain management, such as medication and injections from a physician.  Some patients find that they are able to reduce their use of pain medication through the practice of mind-body techniques.

   Pain management includes training in the following:

• breathing techniques

• progressive muscle relaxation

• biofeedback

• meditation

• self-hypnosis

• mental imagery

   In addition to these techniques, cognitive therapy is an important component of pain management.  Cognitive therapy teaches patients to reduce negative thinking in response to pain sensations and successfully break the cycle of hopeless thinking that can occur with chronic pain.

   Dr. McSweeney uses mind-body techniques and cognitive therapy techniques to help patients control and manage their pain.