Pain is defined as being chronic or long term when it lasts longer
than 3 to 6 months, or beyond the normal healing time of an injury. Chronic
pain management is complicated as different treatments and lifestyle changes
are needed. Learning what to do to manage chronic pain requires personal
responsibility and becoming an active self-manager.
If you
are someone you know has chronic pain, consider taking the Stanford Chronic
Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP.) It is a 6 week, 2 ½ hour program that
helps people learn how to self-manage their pain. Classes are highly
participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’
confidence in their ability to manage their pain and maintain active and
fulfilling lives.
The CPSMP was developed for people who have a primary or
secondary diagnosis of chronic pain. Subjects covered include:
·
techniques
to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation and poor sleep
·
appropriate
exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance
·
appropriate
use of medications
·
communicating
effectively with family, friends and health professionals
·
nutrition
·
pacing
activity and rest
·
how to
evaluate new treatments
If
you’d like to know where a workshop is being held near you, check out our PATH state
information website at http://mihealthyprograms.org/path-workshop-search.aspx . If there isn’t one close to home, PTI can provide a
chronic pain program for your organization or doctor’s office as long as we
have 10-12 participants registered ahead of time. If you’d like PATH Leaders
trained for this program or other PATH programs please contact me cirvin@transformcoach.org.
For
more information on what to do about pain, check out the American Chronic Pain
Association’s website at https://theacpa.org where many helpful tools and treatments
are listed and discussed.
So
many people live with chronic pain in their lives. Better communication with
the health care team is vital for its management. Involve them in decision
making and problem solving. It is possible to live a healthy life with chronic
pain. You just need the tools to do the job.
