More than 42 million Americans are living with chronic pain, according to the American Pain Foundation. Despite decades of research, chronic pain is not well understood and effective treatment remains elusive; a survey by the American Academy of Pain Medicine found that for nearly half of those suffering from chronic pain, comprehensive treatment with prescription drugs does not provide significant relief.
Chronic pain is often a function of such common problems as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, shingles, nerve damage, lower back problems and headache. Often, it is traced to a previous injury or illness from which the patient has long since healed; however, in millions of cases, the cause is undetermined. In recent years, the medical community has come to view chronic pain as a diagnosis unto itself, and the approach to treatment has been broadened to factor in the patient’s overall physical and psychological health, and to include strategies that empower patients to take an active role in reducing their suffering and improving their quality of life.
Empowerment is a key concept for Barbara V. Jarrell, coordinator for the Mid Shore Chronic Disease Self-Management Program offered by MAC, Inc., in Salisbury. A master trainer for MAC, Inc.’s free, six-week programs in chronic disease self-management (CDSMP) and chronic pain self-management (CPSMP), Jarrell’s mission is to teach as many workshops as possible – and help as many people – in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties.
“Both the disease self-management program and the pain self-management program were developed by Stanford Patient Education Research Center,” Jarrell explains. “Program leaders are trained to follow very detailed and evidence-based course content.”
Topics addressed in the Chronic Pain Self Management Program (CPSMP) include techniques for managing frustration, fatigue and isolation as well as pain; appropriate exercises for strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; healthy eating and better balance; communicating with family, friends and health care professionals; and goal-setting, problem-solving and decision-making. The next session will be offered January 16-February 20, 1-3:30 p.m., in the Pain Management Center at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton. Enrollment is open to family members and caregivers as well as to individuals coping with chronic pain.
Jarrell’s most recent class at the Pain Management Center (which she taught with Stephanie Latham, LMT, a licensed massage therapist associated with UM Shore Regional Health’s Center for Integrative Medicine) enrolled a small but varied group. Participants cited rheumatoid arthritis, work-related injury, a car accident and chronic disease as the precipitating causes of their pain. Says Jarrell, “Some of our patients come to us when they’ve tried everything else and feel desperate. Nearly all feel some level of debilitation, and many are fighting depression as a result. What is exciting is that nearly everyone who completes the program reports some benefit – relief from pain and fatigue, more energy, more confidence, a greater sense of calm, or some combination of all of these. And a very obvious benefit is that for up to three years after the class, they are likely to spend fewer days in the hospital than they had before, and also have fewer outpatient visits.”
Kip Koch, who was among the participants in the most recent Easton CPSMP class, has become a real advocate for its benefits. “This program has affected my life in a profound way –I’m happier, feel better, look better, and my family is happier. I’ve changed medications. Life is good.”
The approach of CPSMP, which emphasizes active participation and mutual support, helps participants gain confidence in their ability to manage their health and to resume active and fulfilling lifestyles. For Jarrell, a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor who also teaches exercise classes for older adults and Tai Chi for Better Balance, helping people gain the tools and confidence they need to manage chronic disease or pain and improve their quality of life is especially gratifying. “They learn so much from the program, but also from each other,” she says. “New friendships form – many times, the group members will agree to stay in touch after the class ends or even to meet again.”
Participation in the CDSMP and the CPSMP classes is free but advance registration is required due to limited space. For more information contact Barbara V. Jarrell, 410-310-2331.
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