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A course in chronic pain management

Posted , 5 users are following.

ctrix1
ctrix1

I'm here in US, and am pretty much always in some degree of pain, due a pars defect (spondylolisthesis, a form of broken back) and related DDD, (degenerative disc disease ). Along with regularly scheduled RFA and steroid epidural injections. I was also given a course on how to live with, and manage chronic pain. Has anyone else ever taken any similar course? Just curious because I've never heard mention of it on the Patient website.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • pam00231
    pam00231 ctrix1

    Posted

    I have never taken a course on chronic pain, but there are days when I would like to!  Sounds like a great idea.  
    • linda1718
      linda1718 pam00231

      Posted

      Do you have a pain doctor Pam? If so he/her should be able to organise something for you.

      Linda x

  • linda1718
    linda1718 ctrix1

    Posted

    I’m actually due to start one of these courses next month. Originally it was to be tomorrow as the start date but as I don’t get back from holidays until the early hours of the morning tomorrow I thought it best to change it. I can’t believe they gave me tomorrow as my starting date when I already told the Consultant what date and time I returned! My course runs for 4 weeks from 1330 to 1600 each time, is this similar to yours! 

    Linda x

    • ctrix1
      ctrix1 linda1718

      Posted

      My course lasted 10 weeks. I had a choice between a class room setting that ( I think) met once a week for an hour. Or an over-the- phone course (my choice) in which I had a text/work book that I had to read, answer an automated caller and several questions daily, and once a week talk to a person. I chose the over-the-phone course because I'm self-employed, and often work out of town.

    • linda1718
      linda1718 ctrix1

      Posted

      Did you find it useful? Was there anything to come out of it that helped you?
    • ctrix1
      ctrix1 linda1718

      Posted

      I think that recognizing pain triggers and taking appropriate precautions is probably what I found most useful to me personally. If I had to rely solely on a chronic pain course for relief, I'd probably concentrate deeper on other aspects, but I also have regularly scheduled treatments.

  • linda1718
    linda1718 ctrix1

    Posted

    Forgot to mention that I’m in UK not USA.
  • KathleenColand
    KathleenColand ctrix1

    Posted

    No haven’t heard of it, sorry. I think at this point, my mental capacity is in over ride .  I do all the research I possibly can, and see everyone that could possibly help me.  Finally a Dr has ordered a MRI of my hip. Because I am 65 they have to rule out osteo etc. 
  • allaroundanne
    allaroundanne ctrix1

    Posted

    I had to participate in giving that kind of course as part of my fellowship training.  I always felt, in the back of my mind that it was an admission of failure on the pain clinic's part. We were telling people you have chronic pain, you better learn to live with it, and here's how. I personally hated being part of that. I always wanted to keep looking for ways to help the patients, not give up and tell them to go live with it.  But I know that sometimes that is how it is. I just don't like to acknowledge that and I never gave up as long as my patients wanted to keep trying.

  • ctrix1
    ctrix1

    Posted

    For me, when I was offered the course, I took it. I still recieve regular treatments which ( in my case anyway) provide the majority of my pain relief, (maybe up to 50%) but I'll take any resource available. I think that some of the course was helpful, such as recognizing inflammation triggers, and adjusting lifestyle accordingly. Some aspects are common sense and I'm not sure that I wouldn't have discovered them over time. Other aspects either don't work for me, or maybe I haven't given them enough of a chance, and some things are just BS. Anyway, my heart goes out to those who only have a course as their only resource, and I'm thankful, and pray that it doesn't become that way for me.

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