Pain patients can only rejoice at the recent concept of pain clinics. They have largely overcome the major problem of pain being treated by the well-intentioned but tunnel-visioned approach by each medical specialist.

For example, Ted:

‘I had this awful pain across the bottom of my eye and down my nose. There’s a sizzling noise on top [...]

‘Or, perhaps you may imagine that you’re drinking something nice which gives you a beautiful warmth. Perhaps there’s something like a warmly glowing ball rolling around within you. Allow it to gently warm you inside so that you feel all soft and relaxed. Bring one hand to your mouth and lick two fingers. Now stroke [...]

Hypnotherapy is often ineffective with pain of a psychological nature, particularly when pain is a depressive equivalent. Masked depression is one of the conditions where hypnosis should be avoided unless the hypnotist is able to properly deal with depression with medication and psychotherapy. This should be suspected if the patient gives a history of sleep [...]

‘Look, I’ve got no problems with the procaine and intravenous Valium injections. I’m starting to feel terrific again.

‘While I still have bouts of pain at night, they’re not as diabolical. I feel the treatment’s a success.’

Jane, 29, a television script writer had had a long history of severe abdominal pain following surgery for endometriosis. This [...]