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Integrative Medicine Meets Neuroscience to Manage Chronic Pain
By Kathy A. Steffens, Creative Development & Resource Coordinator –
“Chronic pain alone affects approximately 100 million U.S. adults.
Pain reduces quality of life, affects specific population groups disparately,
costs society at least $560 – 635 billion annually…”
– Institute of Medicine, “Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education,
and Research” (Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 2011) p. 5.
More and more people around the country suffer from chronic pain. Generally considered to be pain that lasts longer than three to six months, Merriam-Webster gives this definition of chronic: “marked by long duration or frequent recurrence.”
You may be experiencing severe or excruciating pain, which often results in an inability to work or enjoy activities with your family – or you may be suffering indirectly with a family member who is continually in pain. The consequences of non-cancer-related chronic pain can frequently involve depression, anxiety, addiction to pain medications, personality changes, memory loss, and conflict in relationships. Dealing with these issues long-term can bring intense emotional distress and feelings of hopelessness to the entire family. Though there may seem to be no way out, there is a way to unlock the cycle. An evidence-based integrative mind-body approach to treatment can bring healing and a renewed sense of well-being for most people who suffer from non-cancer-related chronic pain.
Chronic pain is complex and caused by many perpetuating parts that are intricately combined. Referred to as “Complicated Pain” by Jerry Lerner, M.D., Medical Director and Chief of Pain Medicine at Sierra Tucson, pain is difficult to analyze, understand, or explain due to the interplay of biological and psychological factors. “Although chronic pain is resistant to proven treatment approaches and frequently does not resolve or improve within expected time frames, it IS potentially responsive to an integrative treatment approach that is directed to ALL perpetuating factors and their interplay,” says Dr. Lerner.
Dr. Lerner teaches that there are four major causative and perpetuating factors in chronic pain:
• Bio-mechanical stressors
• Hyper-sensitization
• Inflammation
• Inertial forces
Each of these factors involve in-depth components, requiring a wide range of interventions. By understanding and treating all of these different factors at the same time with medical, psychological, and wellness/integrative strategies and techniques, pain can be significantly relieved.
Moderate to severe pain frequently results in opiate dependence or abuse. The source of most prescription painkillers is from well-meaning doctors who prescribe medications to alleviate pain. However, medication alone is rarely the answer. A sad fact is that prescription painkillers now kill more people than heroin and cocaine combined. Medications may inhibit a person’s capacity to participate in therapeutic activities (physical and psychological), and long-term opiate use may even cause pain. Prolonged exposure to opiates can result in increased sensitivity to pain in some individuals. Detoxification and chemical dependency treatment, if needed, can be an important beginning to accurate evaluation and management of pain.
The Pain Management Program at Sierra Tucson is innovative in its treatment and management of chronic pain with a commitment to treating the whole person through a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. Interdisciplinary coordination among physicians, psychologists, therapists, and integrative services practitioners allows treatment to interlace among medical, psychological, and complementary/wellness models, essentially promoting true mind-body integration. Sierra Tucson also has full programming for addictions, mood disorders, trauma recovery, and eating disorders so that the needs of patients with complicated pain and co-occurring disorders can be met.
Listed below are some of the services offered to patients in Sierra Tucson’s Pain Management Program:
• Medical: Medical and psychiatric assessments, medication management, injection services, detoxification, nutritional assessment/anti-inflammatory nutritional instruction, skilled nursing care
• Psychotherapeutic: Psychometric testing, pain education, biofeedback/neurofeedback, pain process group therapy, mindfulness stress reduction, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing®, Equine-Assisted Therapy, sleep restoration plan, grief and loss counseling
• Physical Rehabilitation: Physical therapy, personal training, hydrotherapy, movement therapy, yoga, therapeutic recreation
• Integrative Services: Integrative Medicine consultation with licensed naturopathic physician (NMD), acupuncture, chiropractic massage, Reiki, Shiatsu, Somato-Emotional Release Massage (SER)
• Family: Four-day Family Program to enhance patient recovery and extend healing to the family
The multidisciplinary treatment teams at Sierra Tucson meet regularly to assess and review each individual’s progress, sharing insights from their areas of expertise and collaborating to update the patient’s treatment plan. This continual reassessment provides the very best treatment to simultaneously address the total scope of your pain management and any co-occurring disorders.
Although no one is guaranteed to leave the Pain Management Program pain-free, suffering can be relieved to a great extent. As awareness, mood, sleep, and physical ability improve, your quality of life can be enhanced and continue to progress after treatment.
“I came broken. Sierra Tucson literally saved my life and restored my most precious commodity: hope.” ~Matt / Darien, CT
For information about finding hope and health at Sierra Tucson’s residential Pain Management Program, call 855-373-7758.
