Recent research into chronic pain management has highlighted the value of an informed patient, by educational strategies, as an important piece of the pain puzzle. Helping you understand your pain system and giving you other tools and ability to help to assist in your own management via increasing their knowledge will improve patient outcome. Importantly we work with you to target your own goals and important things in life whilst improving your ability to keep functioning despite your pain issue, as best as you can achieve.
Self Management and Education
Know pain, know gain. We want you to be educated about your pain and to be active in your recovery. The better understanding you have of your pain, the better you will be able to manage it with our help.
At the heart of self-management, as Lorig and Holman (‘Pain Reports’ ) suggested that there are 3 tasks of self-management interventions:
1.
Managing medical treatment, including self-monitoring of pain, obtaining theprescribed pain medication, and using nonpharmacologic pain management techniques.
2.
Modifying and adjusting their lifestyle, employment, and behaviours to keep some amount of normalcy in life.
3.
Managing emotional and psychological consequences of illness including the use of stress-coping strategies.
At the heart of self-management, as Lorig and Holman (‘Pain Reports’ ) suggested that there are 3 tasks of self-management interventions:
1.
Managing medical treatment, including self-monitoring of pain, obtaining theprescribed pain medication, and using nonpharmacologic pain management techniques.
2.
Modifying and adjusting their lifestyle, employment, and behaviours to keep some amount of normalcy in life.
3.
Managing emotional and psychological consequences of illness including the use of stress-coping strategies.
Pacing
Teaching you how to find the right level.
Movement is essential for living a health life. However, people living with pain often find movement to be a pain-provoking, difficult task. The many structures of the body (bones, joints, muscles, etc) are designed to move and respond well to movement. Pacing involves finding the right amount of activity that minimises any increased pain and still allows you to achieve something.
At Capital Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic we give our patients the tools and strategies to effectively pace their activities so they can achieve their goals and improve their functional capacity.
Stress Management
Managing stress to reduce pain.
Managing stress is a key component to reducing pain levels. Stress and pain share conceptual, physical and psychological overlaps that impacts upon the persons quality of life. When a person is stressed their sympathetic nervous system is activated. Engaging in relaxation/meditation techniques and things that the person finds relaxing helps to increase parasympathetic activity that allows for tissue replenishment and growth.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being in the present and noticing what we are experiencing in on open, non-judgemental way.
The techniques of Mindfulness practice train the mind to be relaxed and open in the presence of all experiences. Pleasant experiences like delicious food or beautiful scenery becomes more enjoyable as we learn to be more present with life. Unpleasant experiences like pain and tend to be less stressful and less dominating.
At Capital Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic we offer mindfulness courses that consist of six two-hour sessions. The course is conducted by an experienced Pain Educator and Counsellor. Registration available by contacting reception.
Lifestyle modification
At Capital Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic, we recognise that lifestyle plays a crucial role in managing chronic pain and improving overall well-being. Our team provides personalised guidance on lifestyle modifications, helping patients make sustainable changes that support their recovery and long-term health.
Sleep Improvement
Not enough sleep at night may contribute to ill-health and increase the sensitivity of tissues, therefore heightening the pain response. We can offer diagnosis, procedures, psychological strategies and medications to assist you.
