Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain is persistent pain that tends to be constant rather than intermittent and can become a pattern of painful sensations that persist long after the initial injury.  The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR) defines chronic pain syndrome (CPS) patients by the following criteria:
  

• reports of persistent (i.e., at least three months duration) pain, which may be consistent with or significantly out of proportion to physical findings;
• demonstrates or has demonstrated a progressive deterioration in ability to function at home, socially, and at work;
• shows or has shown a progressive increase in health care utilization (such as repeated physical evaluations, diagnostic tests, requests for pain medications, and/or invasive medical procedures);
• demonstrates mood disturbance;
• exhibits clinically significant anger and hostility.

 

Chronic pain involves a complex interaction of physiological and psychosocial factors, and successful intervention requires the coordinated effort of a treatment team with expertise in a variety of therapeutic disciplines.  The CARF accredited interdisciplinary pain program at Direct RehabMed includes a core staff of a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, a Pain Medicine Physician, a physical therapist, a licensed psychologist, a Licensed Social Worker, and a Licensed Professional Counselor.  The team members coordinate efforts to rehabilitate the patient and design a comprehensive treatment plan to meet each patient's individual needs. 

 

Treatment goals include the following:

 

• Reduce the misuse, overuse, or dependency on medications;
• Maximize and maintain optimal physical activity and function;
• Return to productive activity at home, socially, and/or at work;
• Increase the patient's ability to self-manage pain and related problems;
• Reduce subjective pain intensity and increase subjective productivity;
• Reduce/eliminate the use of ongoing health care services for primary pain complaint;
• Provide useful information to the patient and professionals involved in the case to allow case resolution;
• Minimize treatment cost without sacrificing quality of care.

 

Interdisciplinary pain management programs are cost-effective.  Patients who complete an interdisciplinary program return to work or undergo vocational rehabilitation more often than patients who do not enter a pain program.  Interdisciplinary pain programs result in decreased pain ratings, decreased reliance upon medications, and marked improvement in physical functioning.