No. I tried acupuncture in conjunction with meds, but it did nothing. I don't think hypnosis would help me. I see it more as helping behavioral modification like diet, smoking, stuff like that. How are you planning on using it? As a pain management tool? I have breathing techniques that I use in dealing with migraines and the kind of pain that lands you in the ER. I use my pain as a measuring tool to evaluate how effective my current medication is. If it is bad enough that I have to deal with it, I talk to my Rheumatologist about changing meds, but everyone can't do that.

If you try it and it is successful, let us know.

Yes I am planning to try Hypnotherapy and was curious to see if any other on this support group have tried this type of therapy. I have used this therapy in the past with much success. And now will try if for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Let me know if anyone has used this please.

Give it a shot, shouldn't hurt anything and please let us know. In the old days of this site there was a little discussion of it but those archives are gone.

sure that's up there, for me, with a good hot tub, great jazz, therapy, nutrient dense food, staying light, trying to find love, good sex, anything hugely diversionary, (new books, travel, friends) - in other words what Kim said - it affects how I interpret my pain not the pain itself. But sure why not? Just add it to the toolbox of feel good band aids. what do you expect the private pay cost to be if you grow fond of this therapy?

I expect that hypnotherapy does not have to be on going say like chiropratic service. I expect that once I am provided with the service that that would be the extent of the services.

I tried hypnotherapy for another reason, and I'd like to suggest that you ask if the therapist is willing to do a pre-treatment assessment / consultation before you make a commitment. Mine did, and she spelled out exactly what she felt she'd be able to do for me, and how she'd achieve that - I found it to be very helpful. Also, she recorded the sessions and provided me with a CD. This served two purposes: one, i'd be able to rule out anything weird or inappropriate happening while I was 'out' (something that hadn't even occurred to me, but, once i thought about it, ew, you know?) and two, I could play the CD again and again, if I found that to be helpful.

Why did you not try the service for your RA?

Obleo - are you on any traditional meds? Unless you are, I respectfully disagree with Nightshade that it can't hurt. Not directly, but indirectly. Anything that works on the pain can be indirectly harmful.

Pain is how our body lets us know that something is wrong. The pain of RA indicates joint damage. If you kill or reduce the pain and are not taking a disease modifying med, you can wind up permanently deformed or crippled like me.

Obleo, because I didn't have it at the time.