Chronic Pain Classes

This is a two-hour class and the first appointment scheduled for patients referred to the Chronic Pain Department. The goal of the class is to educate members about our program philosophy and goals and to provide information about the full range of chronic pain services and alternative treatments available within our department. Participants will be asked to complete a patient assessment questionnaire at the beginning of the class.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required

Intensive Chronic Pain Management Program (Level 3)

An 11 week program designed to increase functional status and quality of life of individuals with chronic pain by teaching and reinforcing pain self-management techniques. The program meets 4 days per week, 4 hours per day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 am -3:00 pm for 5 weeks followed by a weekly follow-up group which meets once a week for 2 hours for 6 weeks. A Friends and Family” Support group is a required component of the program; this group meets on Friday afternoons from 3:30 pm to 5:00pm every other week for the first 5 weeks. The program includes daily reconditioning exercise, walking, relaxation, stress reduction, and pain management strategies.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required

Intermediate Pain Management Program (Level 2)

An 8-week series (each session is 2 ½ hours) designed to improve physical conditioning and general functioning of individuals dealing with chronic pain. Participants learn a variety of physical, psychological and psychophysiological coping and pain management skills. To optimize functioning, we teach individuals gentle reconditioning exercises, relaxation training, and skills for pacing, mindfulness, thought reframing, improved sleep, stress management, communication, and managing flare-ups. Participants emerge from the class with self-care skills to cope with the impact of chronic pain on their mood, thoughts, relationships, and daily activities.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required

Schedule:
Mondays 5:00-7:30 PM
Tuesdays 4:30-7:00 PM

Biofeedback

A 6-week series (each session is 1½ hours) designed to allow individuals to see how stress affects their physiology. Biofeedback instruments are used to monitor and display physiological variables that aid in learning self-regulation. Treatment is designed to teach participants self-control techniques based on body awareness, reducing physical pain and stress. Biofeedback is typically most effective following completion of our intermediate or intensive pain management programs.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required

Schedule:
Mondays 5:30-7:00 PM
Wednesdays 4:30-7:00 PM

Headache Management

A 7-12 week series (each session is 2 hours) designed to help individuals reduce medication use and manage their headaches via self-regulation and analysis of triggering factors. Participants learn relaxation techniques, including some biofeedback, autogenic training, and self-hypnosis.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required

Schedule:
Mondays 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon (for 7 weeks); then Fridays 10:00-12:00 Noon (for up to 5 more wks)

Medication Management Program

The Medication Management program is designed to monitor, support, and provide medication stabilization for individuals being treated primarily with opioid and other pain medications. The overarching goals of the program are: adequate pain control/reduced pain and suffering, improved function and the development of non-pharmacologic pain management skills. Medication groups consist of no larger than 8 members and meet once per month for 1 hour. A pain management topic is discussed each month and patients also meet individually with our pharmacist and receive their monthly prescription. Individual visits with physicians and psychologists are scheduled as needed.
Class Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required; completion of a L2 or L3 pain management program is a prerequisite

Schedule:
Every 4th Thursday, 5:30-6:30 PM; 6:30-7:30 PM
Every 1st Friday, 10:30-11:30 AM

Alumni Services

There are follow-up classes available for program graduates who have completed our L2 and/or L3 chronic pain management classes (Intermediate or Intensive). These classes are designed to provide a supportive environment to help patients maintain and further develop their physical reconditioning and pain coping skills.

Schedule:
Alumni Movement Classes: Wednesdays, 10:00-10:45 AM; 10:45-11:30 AM
Alumni Coping Skills Class: Wednesdays, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Senior Group: Thursdays, 10-11 AM
Participants: Members Only
Referral: Referral required; Completion of a L2 or L3 pain management program is a prerequisite.