I Have No Longer Suffered From Insomnia and Chronic Knee Pain for Nearly 20 Years

Ms. Hoang Dang Phuoc Nghia, currently residing in the Czech Republic, was a student of the "Igniting a New Vitality" course. Before attending the course, she had lived with two issues for nearly two decades: chronic insomnia and chronic knee joint pain.

The knee pain began from many years of working and standing outdoors selling goods during very cold winters in Czechoslovakia. According to her account, doctors abroad took X-rays, examined her, and said that her knee joints were inflamed and degenerated, making a complete cure very difficult. Her husband, a doctoral student in Czechoslovakia, knew many good doctors, but no matter where she went for examinations, she received similar conclusions: primarily medication, pain management, and accepting living with the degenerative condition.

Afterwards, she returned to Vietnam to continue seeking treatment. She tried many types of medication and many therapy methods, but the pain persisted. Whenever the pain became too severe, her only option was to take painkillers. Medication could provide temporary relief, but then the pain would return. And so it went, day after day, month after month.

Nearly 20 years unable to squat

One of the things that bothered Ms. Nghia the most was that she could no longer squat down. Partly because the pain was unbearable, and partly because her thigh muscles were too tight, preventing her knees and legs from bending normally.

For many healthy people, squatting is a very ordinary movement. But for someone with chronic knee pain, it is nearly impossible. Every bending movement, standing up, sitting down, climbing stairs, or walking for extended periods could trigger the pain. When pain persists for a long time, the body gradually develops protective reflexes: muscle tension, avoidance of movement, fear of pain, and loss of belief in the ability to recover.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that typically causes pain, stiffness, and limited movement; symptoms can affect daily activities, especially in weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and spine. NIAMS, part of the NIH, states that osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is often related to changes in cartilage, bone, ligaments, muscles, and surrounding joint tissues. (NIAMS) [https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoarthritis]

Chronic insomnia – the silent fatigue

In addition to knee pain, Ms. Nghia also suffered from insomnia for nearly 20 years. Prolonged insomnia not only causes physical fatigue but also leads to mental decline, irritability, reduced concentration, decreased tolerance, and worsened pain perception.

When pain and insomnia occur together, they can form a very difficult loop to escape: pain makes it hard to sleep, sleep deprivation makes the body more sensitive to pain, and more pain makes it even harder to sleep. Many people live in this loop for many years and gradually come to believe that they have no choice but painkillers, sleeping pills, or endurance.

The CDC states that good sleep is essential for health and emotional well-being; adults aged 18–60 typically need at least 7 hours of sleep per night, and those with frequent sleep problems should consult a healthcare provider. (CDC) [https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html]

From the Czech Republic to Vietnam to attend "Igniting a New Vitality"

From the Czech Republic, Ms. Nghia learned about the Center's website and registered for the "Igniting a New Vitality" course. For her, it was a decision driven by a very real need: to find another opportunity, another method, another direction after nearly 20 years of pain and insomnia.

In the course, she was guided in mind-body self-care methods, self-therapy, deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, EFT, and techniques to help the body return to a more balanced state. What surprised her was that as soon as she practiced the self-care methods taught by Teacher Quan along with the others, her pain changed noticeably.

She shared that she could squat down completely normally, felt no pain, her thigh muscles naturally softened, and they were no longer as tight as before.

When the body relaxes, movement becomes easier

In chronic joint pain, not all pain sensations come solely from joint structures. Pain is also related to muscles, the nervous system, stress, sleep, pain memory, fear of movement, and overall body tension. When a person has been in pain for many years, the muscles around the joint may contract to protect the painful area. This contraction makes movement more difficult and sometimes increases pain.

When the body enters a state of deep relaxation, breathing slows, muscles relax, the nervous system becomes less vigilant, and the learner is guided to receive positive suggestions, pain perception and tension levels can change in some individuals. This can help learners attempt movements they once feared, such as sitting down, standing up, or bending the knee.

NCCIH, part of the NIH, describes relaxation techniques as practices that help produce the body's "relaxation response," characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure, and reduced heart rate; these techniques include self-hypnosis, guided imagery, slow breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. (NCCIH) [https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-what-you-need-to-know]

The second night after the course: sleeping well without medication

Not only did her knees change, but Ms. Nghia also experienced another very significant change: from the second night after the course, she returned to sleeping well. The nearly 20-year insomnia, according to her, no longer bothered her as before. She slept very well without needing to take medication.

For someone who had been insomniac for nearly two decades, a good night's sleep is not just rest. It is the feeling of being alive again. It is the relief that night is no longer frightening. It is waking up in the morning without feeling exhausted. It is the belief that one's nervous system can still return to a state of peace.

Self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, slow breathing, and positive suggestion before sleep can help learners calm the anxiety–tension–insomnia loop. When the body relearns the feeling of safety, sleep can come more naturally.

Six months later: no pain, no return of insomnia

More than 6 months after the course, on a trip back to Vietnam, Ms. Nghia returned to visit Teacher Quan and the Center. She shared that she was healthy, no longer in pain, and had not experienced a return of insomnia since the course.

What surprised both her and her husband was that although X-rays had previously shown knee joint degeneration, her pain perception and mobility had changed dramatically. For her, this was a "miracle." In a more cautious mind-body understanding, it can be said that her body had a very positive response to the process of practice, relaxation, nervous system regulation, and self-care.

The difference between degenerative findings on X-rays and the level of pain in daily life is very noteworthy. Many people have structural joint changes but experience different levels of pain; pain perception also depends on many factors beyond imaging, such as muscle tension, sleep, stress, activity level, emotions, and the nervous system.

Excerpt from Ms. Hoang Dang Phuoc Nghia's reflection

"I have suffered from insomnia and chronic knee pain for nearly twenty years."

"In Czechoslovakia, the winters are very cold, and perhaps because I had to stand and sell goods outdoors for many years, I developed chronic inflammation and degeneration of my knee joints."

"The doctors took X-rays and showed me the images; they said that because my knee joints were already degenerated, it could no longer be cured."

"My only option was to take painkillers whenever the pain became unbearable."

"For a long time, I could not squat down either, partly because the pain was unbearable and partly because my thigh muscles were too tight, so I couldn't sit down."

"As soon as I and the others in the class practiced the self-healing methods that Teacher Quan taught, my pain disappeared, and I could squat down completely normally."

"From the second night after the course, I also recovered from chronic insomnia... I still sleep very well without needing to take medication."

"Since the day I finished the course, I have not experienced any return of pain or insomnia."

"My family and I are very grateful and endlessly thankful to Teacher Quan and the Center."

"Igniting a New Vitality" – awakening the ability for mind-body self-care

The "Igniting a New Vitality" course helps students access practice methods such as EFT, self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, positive suggestion, emotion regulation, and body self-care. The goal of the course is to help students understand that they are not completely helpless against stress, pain, insomnia, and prolonged mind-body responses.

When learners know how to bring their bodies into a relaxed state, observe pain, calm emotions, breathe more deeply, and use positive self-talk, they gain additional tools to support recovery. These tools do not replace doctors, but they can help learners become more proactive in their daily lives.

Common concerns of students

Many students join the course hoping to support issues such as insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, herniated discs, joint degeneration, knee pain, sciatica, stomach pain, colon issues, blood pressure, diabetes, and prolonged mind-body problems.

The methods in the course are most suitable when understood as supportive approaches: helping to reduce stress, improve sleep, support pain perception, enhance relaxation ability, and improve quality of life. For organic diseases, chronic conditions, or severe symptoms, students still need appropriate medical examination and treatment.

Scientific and safety note

The content of this article is the personal reflection of a student after the course. Results may vary depending on the individual, joint condition, degree of degeneration, medical history, cause of insomnia, stress level, ability to practice, and post-course maintenance.

Methods such as EFT, self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, positive suggestion, and emotion regulation should be understood as tools to support mind-body health. They do not replace medical examination, diagnostic imaging, medication, physical therapy, insomnia treatment, surgery, emergency care, or specialized medical intervention when necessary.

People with severe knee pain, swollen, hot, or red joints, joint deformity, post-traumatic pain, inability to stand, fever, unexplained weight loss, prolonged insomnia, or insomnia accompanied by severe anxiety or depression should be evaluated by a specialist. Do not stop taking pain medication, sleeping pills, or chronic disease medication without a doctor's guidance.

Course information

Related course: Haruva – Igniting a New Vitality

Orientation: EFT, self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, pain perception support, sleep improvement, stress reduction, emotion stabilization, mind-body health care

Instructor: Hypnosis Expert Nguyen Manh Quan

Suitable for: People with stress-related insomnia, body aches, joint pain, tension, anxiety, low energy, wanting to learn self-care methods within safe limits

Hotline: 0904.606.965

Email: chualanhkhongdungthuoc@gmail.com

References

- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NIH. Osteoarthritis. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoarthritis

- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Sleep. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html

- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/relaxation-techniques-what-you-need-to-know

- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Hypnosis. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis

- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH. Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation

Under the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations, the center trains special methods to improve health, prevent and support treatment of physical and mental issues, and provides training in learning methods, thinking, and applied psychology for communication, business, negotiation, and sales.

© 2026 Trị Bệnh Không Dùng Thuốc. All rights reserved.

Heal your spirit

Contact

Address: Cultural and Sports Center, Yen Phu Ward, No. 1/15, Alley 189 An Duong Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

Hotline: 0904.606.965