Mindfulness meditation use in chronic pain treatment in rural Australia: Pitfalls and potential - A case report.
Journal of neurosciences in rural practice – January 01, 2023
Source: PubMed
Summary
Mindfulness meditation shows promise as a treatment for chronic pain, particularly in rural settings where access to care can be limited. In a case involving a patient from New South Wales, significant improvements in quality of life were observed despite challenges in existing research quality and mixed outcomes. With over 70% of chronic pain patients reporting difficulties in managing their condition, mindfulness offers a potential pathway to enhance well-being and cope with the complexities of aging and pain management.
Abstract
Mindfulness is a state of awareness characterized by open and non-judgmental recognition of thoughts and sensations and an ability to resist the usual wandering of an individual's attention. Usually achieved by meditation, mindfulness is recognized as a treatment for chronic pain. Evidence, thus far, has been characterized by poor quality trials and mixed results, but a growing body of research is further investigating its effectiveness. Despite inconclusive evidence, the inherent difficulties of mindfulness research, and problems of accessibility in rural settings, mindfulness meditation is an emerging treatment strategy for many chronic pain patients. This report presents the case of a patient admitted to a rural hospital in New South Wales, whose quality of life was severely impacted by chronic pain.