Positive Thinking Helps Manage Chronic Pain: Study

Thinking positive helps ease pain and discomfort, finds a study.

Recent survey reports suggest many Americans frequently consume over-the counter painkiller medications for body pain, musculoskeletal problems and physical ailments. Health experts fear easy availability, accessibility and intake of these medications cause addiction and deaths from overdosing. Researchers at the University of Reading found five minutes of cognitive behavioural therapy that involves positive thinking is better than popping pills and reduces severity of pain by 60 percent.

Their 'mind over body' study comprised of 34 participants aged between 21 and 38 who received burns on their arms from thermal rods for nearly eight times. The heat stimulation from rods induced secondary hyperalgesia or a painful sensation persisting beyond injured area in the arms. Few of the subjects had prior training on pain management and were able to control negative thoughts on pain. Their self-ratings on pain intensity was 58 percent lesser compared to those without training.

These participants' self-reported 'unpleasantness was drastically reduced even after having eight pain stimulations proving, the CBT is effective in equipping people to handle emotional reactions and responses to pain.

"The results were striking. The 'pain-trained' group achieved a 38 per cent reduction in secondary hyperalgesia, while the control group reported an increase of 8 per cent.We know that pain feels more debilitating when it signals illness or injury compared to when we are undertaking an activity we feel is beneficial we go through the pain barrier," said Tim Salomons, study author and researcher at the University of Reading, reports the Daily Mail.

This method is cost-effective and can be easily employed in the treatment of chronic back pain.

Back pain is the most common form of physical disability condition that affects work productivity, daily life and recreational activities. According to the data by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Americans spend over $50 billion every year on treatments and medications to get rid of back pain.

"At-home cognitive treatments, working in tandem with other treatments, could make a difference to NHS finances and waiting times as well as improving the lives of chronic pain sufferers," added Salomons, reports the Daily Mail.

More information is available online in the journal Pain.