Reiki for the Chronic Pain Epidemic
Chronic pain affects about 20% of the worldwide population, varying by country. It can be debilitating for sufferers and for the quality of their lives. Arthritis is the most common form of chronic pain and other types include migraines, back pain, sciatica, and more. It is estimated that 1.6 to 1.66 billion people in 2026 suffer from chronic pain.
Chronic Pain: Definition and Costs
Defined as pain that lasts longer than three to six months, chronic pain has become one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention. In addition to personal and family costs, there are healthcare burdens, disability and societal costs as well. Most people who suffer from chronic pain are prescribed pain medications. Increasingly, complementary solutions like Reiki have also proven helpful.
Pain Relief with Reiki
Understanding Chronic Pain and its Effects on the Body
Some individuals think of chronic pain as acute pain that does not subside. This definition, however, does not quite capture its wide range of manifestations. Chronic pain is a blanket term, but not everyone who suffers from it will have comparable symptoms. Chronic pain may be mild or excruciating. It can also occur continuously or sporadically. While the pain may merely inconvenience some people, others may be completely incapacitated by the pain.
Chronic pain is often described as “burning,” “shooting,” “electrical,” or “aching,” and it can be accompanied by stiffness, soreness, tightness, and discomfort. Over time, it can lead to fatigue, moodiness, or sleeplessness. The source of a sufferer’s chronic pain can be difficult to pinpoint, since a variety of diseases may contribute. It may linger from an old injury, accompany the natural aging process, or even come from poor posture.
But chronic pain can do much more than just interfere with normal, day-to-day life. Researchers at Northwestern University found that chronic back pain, in some cases, can shrink the brain by up to 11%, effectively speeding up the brain’s aging process by 10-20 years. The effects of chronic pain can also create a vicious cycle. With time, the affected nerves become more sensitive, to the point where even the touch of a feather can be painful in severe cases.
Pain Medications Are Part of the Solution
For many sufferers of chronic pain, medications can help the pain. For other patients, pain medications may not be the only focus. For example, for many patients, painkillers may interfere with other medications. Despite their proven results, pain medications should not be the only solution considered when attempting to assuage chronic pain. Medication is only one of several options to treating chronic pain. Other options may help complement pain medications and procedures.
Pain Relief Alternatives
Moving around more is the last thing that many chronic pain sufferers would think to do. Despite sounding counter-intuitive, consistent exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent chronic pain, regardless of age. A Norwegian study from 2011 looked at 46,533 adults and found that the incidence of chronic pain among young and middle-aged individuals who exercised was 10-12% lower. Exercisers who were 65 years of age or older showed even better results. So starting an exercise plan under the instruction of your physician may help prevent some forms of chronic pain later on.
The Chinese method of acupuncture may also help. A study from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York, as well as other studies from 2009 and 2010, found that real acupuncture is more effective at relieving pain than no acupuncture or “sham” acupuncture. This finding seems to rule out the placebo effect that many cite when discussing acupuncture. Some researchers think acupuncture provides relief by reorganizing nerve pathways and releasing adenosine, which is one of the body’s natural painkillers.
Reiki and Chronic Pain… Could it Help?
In addition to other natural, non-invasive therapies, Reiki has become an increasingly popular option. Since Reiki is being offered in more private practices, hospices, and hospitals, more patients can benefit from the treatment than ever before.
Beyond signaling a physical problem, chronic pain can also stem from psychological and emotional disturbances. Reiki may possibly help by encouraging relaxation and healing energy to flow freely. The result might be reduced pain and tension, as well as feelings of relaxation and rejuvenation. Unlike most other treatments, Reiki is a multi-purposed method that can help ease both physical and emotional tension through relaxation and stress reduction.
Growing Evidence in Reiki Research
Some small studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of Reiki. They suggest that patients may use Reiki to find relief from not only the physical aspects of chronic pain but also the anxiety that often comes with it. According to an article from the University of Minnesota, several studies found that Reiki treatments seem to relax patients, reduce fatigue and depression, and strengthen a person’s overall sense of wellbeing.
According to an article on the National Fibromyalgia Association’s website, Reiki sessions have brought relief and helped individuals feel more balanced. ‘The author writes that patients who received Reiki treatment experienced “total relaxation, less tense muscles, and improvement in their range of motion.” One patient who suffered from fibromyalgia pain for years was able to stop taking pain-relieving medications after starting regular Reiki treatments.
Increasing Awareness in the Medical Community
Medical practitioners and patients, as well as researchers, are becoming more aware of the real and lasting effects of Reiki when it comes to treating chronic pain. Reiki succeeds because it works on a deeper level, influencing the flow of healing energy that promotes a sense of balance and can help lead to some pain relief in patients suffering from chronic pain from a variety of conditions. Ongoing research and testimonials from patients have shown that an integrative, individualized approach works best. Chronic pain and its accompanying treatments are still being researched; Reiki is crucial for this research. When discussing chronic pain, combining medication with exercise, acupuncture, and Reiki may potentially bring about an enhanced level of pain relief.
Reiki is not a substitute but works as a complement to any therapies and procedures that your physician may recommend. It can help provide a relaxation response for one’s body which is needed when one is in chronic pain. A Reiki session can provide an hour of peaceful tranquility and stress reduction, in which the body can focus on healing.
Search the IARP website for other medical articles about Reiki and Chronic Pain conditions such as Reiki and Arthritis.
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Sources: chronicpainfocus.com/chronic-pain-statistics/,azcpm.com/blog/common-pain-conditions/common-chronic-pain-conditions/,thegoodbody.com/chronic-pain-statistics/,webmd.com, news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2004/11/01/back-pain, fmaware.org/reiki-therapy-and-fibromyalgia/
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