I played basketball growing up and still maintain bragging rights with my sons when it comes to playing h-o-r-s-e. . . anyway, by my junior year I started having a lot of pain in my left foot. It was so bad that towards the end of practice I had to take my shoe off. I didn’t have any injuries and the trainer didn’t know how to treat it. . .
Fast forward to my sophomore year in college when I heard an advertisement for a bunionectomy. As the symptoms were described I quickly concluded that I indeed had a bunion. Horrendous images of my great-aunts feet flashed before my eyes and I quickly called the number on the ad to see if I was a candidate.
The person on the other end of the phone asked me a series of questions and explained the surgery would be no cost to me and I would receive $1,000 by agreeing to be part of their test group for a new pain medication.
Sign-me-up!!!
Surgery
So a few weeks later I met with the doctor, signed all the appropriate paperwork and the next day I was being wheeled to the operating room.
The surgery was quick — break the toe, realign it and hold it in place with a screw — obviously, I don’t remember any of that. I vaguely remember waking up in the recovery room and hitting on the surgeon, stroking his hair and telling him I loved him.
I can also slightly recall being wheeled back to my room and pretending I was the main float in a parade — waving and blowing kisses to everyone.
Pain Meds
After I had been in my room for about an hour or so, I began to feel pain in my foot. I called the nurse and she came in with a glass of water and a little paper cup with one pill inside of it. I swallowed it down, also told her I loved her and fell asleep.
I didn’t wake for another 4 hours at which time my toe was hurting and I requested more meds.
Rinse and repeat.
The following day I was discharged with a boot on my foot and with instructions to come back for a follow up exam in 6 weeks.
Follow Up
At the conclusion of my follow up appointment I was given an envelope and the folded paper inside confirmed that the medication that the nurses gave me while in recovery was actually a sugar pill!
I was shocked!!!
I was aware of the placebo effect, but had never experienced it for myself in such a profound and obvious way.
This was fascinating and so curious to me.
Placebo
Essentially, a placebo is anything that seems to be a “real” medical treatment — but isn’t. It could be a pill, a shot, or some other type of “fake” treatment.
What all placebos have in common is that they do not contain an active substance meant to affect health.
Scientists have known about the placebo effect for more than 400 years. In 1572, a French philosopher wrote that “there are men on whom the mere sight of medicine is operative.”
Power of Belief
Every thought and emotion a person has sends a message to their body; either a message of love and healing or a message of fear and dis-ease.
A person can take a sugar pill and because their mind tells their body it will take the pain away- their body will create the same chemical reactions as if they were actually taking real medication!
The brain is a powerful healing tool, when given the chance.
It is more than creating a strong connection between your mind and body, it is realizing that they are one and the same.
The body is a representation of the mind and emotions!
