Complex Regional Pain Syndrome : Your Path To Healing

I am often asked about my meditation method. People want to know the right way of meditating to recover from CRPS. After all, I credit meditation with my recovery from CRPS.  Each time, I reply that I may disappoint them because there is no right or wrong way to meditate; there are only ways that suit different individuals. Each person is unique. What works for one person may not work for another one. Some people find themselves more comfortable when they are guided; others are more free-wheeling and free-willing, so they prefer to find their own path. Some people prefer to sit in a quiet room; others would rather walk or even run on a forest trail. Some people love music, some don’t.

When I began meditating, I tried guided meditations from different instructors and different respective methodologies. None of the guided meditations worked for me. Some instructors were very specific about posture, background sounds, and mental focus.  Have you ever tried not to think about something that you were told not to think about? I did. I was told to detach from the chatter in my mind, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the subject I had to avoid. My inability to follow the guidance precisely irritated me enough to make meditation just the opposite: a frustrating exercise. Following instructions is especially hard if you are in pain, so you cannot maintain the position prescribed by the instructor.

But there are a few simple rules I have found crucial for getting results from your meditation. These rules are based on my own and others’ experiences.

1. In order to be effective, your meditation session must continue for at least 45 minutes, 60-90 minutes preferably. As my Qi Gong instructor explains it, it is like cooking a turkey. If you put the turkey in the oven 12 times for 10 minutes, it won’t cook, but if you put it in the oven once for 2 hours, you will get a well-cooked turkey. Your brain must enter a state of flow and remain in it long enough for the healing process to begin. A CRPS patient, Kay, whose success story is published on our site, meditated 4 times a day, 15 minutes each, to no result. After trying 60 minutes once a day, she saw improvements right away. Start with 5 minutes or whatever you can sustain comfortably, but eventually train yourself to meditate for at least 45 minutes. It may take a few days or a few weeks; keep trying.
2. To avoid unnecessary stress, make sure that you don’t have any plans for the next 1 or even 2 hours from the start of your meditation. Your mind should be free of time constraints.  
3.  Make sure that your body is in the most comfortable position, and don’t be afraid to change it if it becomes uncomfortable. The more you practice, the less likely you will need to change your position.
4. The easiest way to get your mind out of the chatter is to focus on your breath. Nothing special, breathe normally, but try to slow down your exhalation if it comes naturally to you.  
5.  Make your meditation practice a routine exercise, preferably daily. We are creatures of habit; we love routines, they bring us comfort and stress relief. Try to do it in the same environment: same couch, same music if you use it, same scent if you want a bit of aromatherapy added to your practice, same blanket to cover yourself for comfort.
6. Most importantly, the purpose of your practice is not to follow a specific set of instructions but to achieve a sense of inner peace and relaxation towards the end. However, if your session today didn’t get you there, don’t despair. You will achieve the desired result next time. Keep trying, and you will be pleasantly surprised when it all comes together one day.