Pain Conditions and Non-Drug Interventions to Aid Pain Management
If you identify with any of the above thoughts, you are not alone! One in three people living in the United States suffers from pain. There are several different types of pain such as surgery related pain, burns, injuries, cancer related pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain associated with trauma. When you experience bodily pain, your nervous system alerts you to prevent additional physical harm, as a biological function to ensure your survival. When there is an injury, the nerves send signals to protect the body and the injured area. Once the injury heals, these nerves usually relax and return to a normal level of functioning. If the nerves persist in a heightened sensitivity state, your pain can continue even though the injury is healed. Changes to the brain and nervous system can occur as a result, leading to chronic pain (Thorn, 2017). Retrain Pain offers this brief lesson to help explain why we have pain.
A Brief Word on the Assessment of PainThere are different ways to describe and measure pain. Aside from considering the frequency, intensity, and duration of your pain sensations, we also want to consider how it impacts your daily living. When you perceive that your pain is moderate to severe and is affecting your quality of life more than it should, psychological consultation is a necessary aspect for your pain management treatment team. To help you identify ways that pain can impact daily living, I invite you to complete the PROMIS Scale for Pain Interference:
Available Pain Treatments and Self-ManagementThe current opioid epidemic draws attention to the critical need for better pain treatment options. Opioid use risks include suicide and opioid misuse and harm. In 2019, the United States Health and Human Services Department (HHS) released a Pain Management Best Practices document. The Task Force recommends using treatments from one or more areas which may include:
I am able to work with most patients living with pain through my psychology residency training, postdoctoral fellowship training, and experience in physical rehabilitation facilities, dialysis center, and primary care community health clinic. I am also a certified Empowered Relief Class Instructor. I believe that a coordinated healthcare team approach is the best way to support you in managing your pain, reducing medication use, and restoring your functioning and quality of life. Pain conditions I treat include:
If you don't see your pain condition here, I may still be able to help you.. just ask! Recommended pain management interventions include:
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Hours Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm
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Telephone 949.337.1034
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