‘People need to know about this’

Steph explains why she’s “shouting about” how hypnotherapy helped make her long-delayed hip replacement “such a postive experience”.

In 2019, although only in my 40s, I had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis and was on the waiting list for a full hip replacement. At the time Helen was teaching yoga classes and I loved the way she worked with me to modify postures to accommodate my increasing pain and immobility as I waited for a date for surgery.

A year later the Covid-19 pandemic arrived – and with it lockdowns, online yoga classes and the postponement of all ‘non essential’ surgery. Eventually even the modified postures became too much for me, but when my hip replacement was eventually confirmed for May 2021 Helen told me about the benefits of using hypnotherapy for surgery. I signed up immediately.

At this point there were only 2.5 weeks before my scheduled surgery date, but Helen managed to fit in three sessions with me.

Meanwhile, I listened daily to the recordings she sent me: a general relaxation recording to start with, followed by a personalised one that she had made for me during our second session. The third session provided an opportunity to address any lingering concerns and reinforce the suggestions already being bedded in.

When the long-awaited date arrived, I spent a whole day in pre-op before being told that time had run out and I would have to wait another two weeks until 26th May. Although the delay was extremely upsetting for me at the time, the following day when I spoke to Helen I told her that I felt much more positive this time round. I was stronger in myself, calmer & more confident about it, which I am certain came from Helen’s hypnosis.

Four days after my surgery, I sent Helen the following email:

“Hi Helen

I cannot begin to tell how fabulous life is now! I feel like the biggest weight and tightest shackles have been removed – it’s wonderful.

I arrived at 7am on Wednesday and was told I was first on the list. I went down at 8:30 to wait about five minutes before being taken into theatre, where I was given the spinal block and laid quickly on my side (it kicks in pretty quickly). I told them I’d been using hypnosis along with music and would need minimal sedation and that’s how it went!

I remember being clamped into place, being aware of cutting, sawing, hammering, pushing & stapling but no pain and no anxiety – in fact, I was grinning so much they must have thought I was insane!

I came back as soon as they took my earphone out and said my name and was awake and alert immediately. I spent a lovely half an hour in recovery before being wheeled me back to the ward. This was by 12pm!

The only bad thing was trying to sleep the first night but even that didn’t hold me back. I saw the physio, my surgeon, the ward appointed doctor and X-ray team and managed to be released within 36 hours of arrival – pretty good going for major surgery!