Recovery story: Ben’s journey from chronic pain back to an active lifestyle

The benefits of learning about the pain system

Around six months ago I decided to consult a new physiotherapist. Fortunately he was well trained in dealing with chronic pain and provided very helpful education about the interaction of the central nervous system in pain regulation and pain sensitivity more generally.

My physio sessions changed from massages and mechanical treatment to discussions about pain sensitivity and some exercises targeted at gradually reducing same.

Finding the Relio program

Fortuitously it was while engaging with this new type of physiotherapy that I came across Mindset Health on social media and volunteered for participation in the Relio program upon realising it was also targeted at addressing the root cause of pain - being the pain system itself, rather than some old and quite possibly healed injury.

The benefits of the Relio program

Having just completed the six week program I can say that while I enjoyed the relaxation and therapy of the hypnosis sessions, it was really the education that for me provided the most compelling results.

The biggest things that I learned was about the communication between my back and brain and how this was impacting upon my pain. I realised that my pain system had become so sensitive that even the smallest changes, movements or exercises that involved my lower back resulted in a disproportionately reactive response from my brain, interpreting those movements as something worthy of a pain response.

I learned that there is a way in which to “recalibrate” the pain system and to dial down pain sensitivity so that ordinary and non-threatening exercises would not result in a pain response or flare up.

Reclaiming quality of life

Through continued and daily education, positive affirmations, re-engagement in physical activities in a controlled and tempered way, together with the benefits of calming hypnotherapy sessions I have been able to finally start to meaningfully dial down my pain sensitivity to allow me to get back to doing some of the things that back pain took away from me.

I really enjoyed how the program helps to build confidence and proactively supports the re-integration of physical activity. The things you learn in education and hypnosis are things you can call upon while engaging in new and challenging physical activities, replacing fear of re-injury with hope and confidence.

I am no longer stressed about long periods of sitting (eg driving or flying), and I can effectively deal with the stress responses from work that historically have made the pain very difficult to manage. One of the benefits of the hypnosis component of the program has been the ability to quiet down my pain responses from stress quickly and efficiently through the 15 minute hypnosis sessions.

Advice for others considering Relio

I would definitely recommend the program to anyone looking for meaningful long term results in their back pain journey and who are tired of the miscommunication, mixed messages and noise that you experience when trying to find a solution to chronic back pain online. I think it’s important to keep an open mind and be open to the experience and practice that goes into re-calibrating your pain system. But every second of effort is worth the results, which for me so far have been extremely positive.

I plan on continuing to work on my pain system through the ongoing maintenance program and I hope that this message can help someone else out there who I know will be suffering just like I was before finding the right solution.

‍