Tmj,
Hypnotherapy and various other types of deep relaxation and/or meditative exercises can be an excellent component to a total pain management regimen. There are a lot of hypnotherapists who have had a couple of days of training and then hang out a shingle. You can just as easily buy a good CD and learn to use it. But a lot of pain management psychologists/counselors know many of these techniques along with other PM strategies, so that's a good place to start.
A woman who does excellent guided imagery (pretty similar to hypnotherapy) resources is Belleruth Naparstek, LISW. She started her work with the Cleveland Clinic chemotherapy patients, and now is nationally known, and her material is used in many research studies. I have no financial connection whatsoever to her, but use her materials and recommend them to others. I usually go to sleep to one of her tapes every night. Her website is
www.healthjourneys.com.
Dr. Andrew Weil also produces some good material. A lot of times you can rent these at the library, and find something you like before you buy it. It's well worth it, but may need to be used in conjunction with other methods. Gentle yoga (approved by your doctor), massage, or PT may be useful.
Hope this helps a bit.
PaLady
Post Edited (PAlady) : 11/6/2009 9:08:22 PM (GMT-7)