Pain Rehabilitation: FAQs
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What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is different from the momentary pain that warns your body of potential harm. It's also different from the acute pain of a broken arm or the pain that goes away as the fracture heals. Chronic pain persists, and it is not totally treatable by medical or surgical means. Chronic pain is not simply a physical problem that your doctor alone can cure. Instead, it causes suffering and deterioration of your lifestyle; it affects you, your body, your emotions, your family, your work, and your financesin other words, your entire life. This is why a holistic approach to pain rehabilitation is so important.
Why can't I just take pain medications?
Pain medications can be very effective for short-term pain, but they are often only partially effective for reducing the pain and suffering of chronic pain. There are many other easy-to-learn techniques, along with medications, that will help you to achieve your highest levels of independence. Often, once these new techniques are learned, a person will be able to reduce their current level of medication.
Who's in control…the pain or me?
You are. You have the power to determine the course of your life. Learning how to deal with chronic pain is not easy. Your spirit, effort, and motivation are the key components in the success of your pain control program.
How can I take control of my pain?
Get the help you need to attain the following goals. The Good Shepherd Pain Rehabilitation Program can help you:
- Pace your activities
- Exercise, but build up slowly
- Eat nutritious foods
- Learn how to sleep better at night
- Build up a support network
- Stop smoking
- Work with your doctor to develop an effective medication regimen
How do I separate my pain from the rest of my life?
Be generous to yourself. Don't be your own worst enemy because you have chronic pain or because you have the grief or anger that goes along with it. Acknowledge your feelings and give yourself permission to express negative feelings in a positive way.
- Learn to accept and like yourself. You may have pain, but the pain is not you. You have so much to contribute, despite the pain.
- Don't give up. Other people have been successful in gaining control over their chronic pain. You can too.
- Give yourself permission to rest and relax. Take a few moments each day to recover from the stress of daily life with chronic pain. Good Shepherd's stress management and relaxation training programs will help you address your stress more effectively.
For more information on the Good Shepherd Pain Rehabilitation Program, please call 610-778-9234 (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). |
