Pain Management for Chronic pain

Studies have shown that mind/body techniques can improve the health and well-being of persons suffering from chronic illness, including chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The Mind/Body Chronic Pain Service gives patients tools they can use to better cope with and, in some cases, lessen their physical symptoms as well as the anxiety, frustration, and depression that often accompany pain-related illness.  Anyone experiencing daily pain for more than three months and patients with CFS or fibromyalgia could benefit from these services.

We will work together:

• Identify factors or situations that may contribute to your symptoms
• Reduce the intensity and/or frequency of fatigue, pain, and other physical symptoms
• Accept and better cope with certain chronic conditions
• Regain a sense of control and well-being

The Mind/Body Chronic Pain program is designed to complement any medical treatment through a combination of:

• 8 Individual counseling weekly sessions to apply mind/body approaches to pain-specific issues

Elements of this unique combination of care include:

• Elicitation of the relaxation response through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and mindfulness
• Ways to pace yourself and schedule activities to reduce the exacerbation of symptoms
• Healthy eating and other positive lifestyle behaviors
• Skills to help you communicate more clearly and assertively with caregivers as well as colleagues, friends and family

In addition, clients examine and restructure negative thoughts and self-talk that can interfere with their coping abilities, such as "I'll never be able to work again." With the cognitive/behavioral strategies I teach, clients realize what they can still do and the thought becomes "I'll work again; it may just be in a different capacity and I am still an integral and important member of my family."