A Comprehensive Approach to Pain Rehab Can Disrupt Chronic Pain

Typical pain relief treatments can be ineffective and often lead down a endless path of frustration, decreased function, isolation, stress, and increasingly worsened pain.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers this subject and suggests that comprehensive pain rehabilitation may be the approach that helps patients break the cycle of chronic pain.

Pain rehab centers and programs vary widely in their range, scope, and focus. Some offerings may include classes that can last a few days to a few weeks. Some programs are residential, while others are day programs. The common denominator across programs is a team approach, including physician specialists, psychologists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists. The team works to develop an individualized plan of action to address the numerous and far-reaching effects that chronic pain has on the patient and loved ones.

Pain rehabilitation programs often include: - A thorough up-front evaluation – This involves a close examination of physical and psychological conditions, medications, work status, and relationships to determine a pain management course of action.

- Medication management – A number of patients dealing with chronic pain are prescribed opioids which, during the long term, can increase pain, lower pain tolerance or cause other side effects. Reducing or eliminating certain medications is often beneficial.

-Physical therapy – Physical deconditioning, including weight gain and loss of strength and stamina, often occur in conjunction with chronic pain, making daily activities more difficult. Physical therapists can assist with several approaches to reduce pain, while safely improving fitness levels, improving posture, and determining ways to move the body more efficiently.

- Stress management – Stress management may include relaxation methods such as meditation might be taught. Another alternative is biofeedback, where a computerized instrument gives feedback concerning a patient’s physical response to stress. With this feedback, patients can learn to control their physical responses to stress. Other services like psychological care, lifestyle management, group therapy, family counseling, acupuncture or hypnosis may also be offered, too.

Although a pain rehab plan usually doesn’t eliminate the pain entirely, pain management guided by a team of specialists can help patients change their focus from living with pain to getting back to a more fulfilling life.