Looking for a better way to manage pain?
- September 2002
Imagine having so much chronic pain that a simple task like opening a dishwasher is excruciating. That is just one of the daily activities that was out of bounds for St. Catharines resident Donna Stuart, age 60. Fibromyalgia, a difficult condition to diagnose because it manifests differently in patients, is the culprit.
"I have chronic pain everywhere," Donna explains. "It is painful to get out of bed, there is an overwhelming sense of fatigue most of the time, and I also have osteoarthritis in my right leg, which means more pain."
Donna had back surgery in 1993 and now takes medication to help control her pain, but until recently there was little else the medical community could offer to relieve her chronic pain. She is not alone. It is estimated that 3.9 million adults in Canada (17% of the population) suffer from chronic pain. Low back pain is estimated to affect 60-80% of individuals at some time in their lives. Chronic Pain Syndrome affects all aspects of an individual's life and often severely impedes ability to manage even the smallest activity.
The Niagara Health System recognized this growing problem and one year ago opened a Chronic Pain Management Program at Shaver & Niagara Rehab Site to help some of the most seriously-affected individuals learn to cope with their situation and make positive changes in their quality of life. The program is the only OHIP-funded program of its kind in Niagara.
The multidisciplinary team at Shaver & Niagara Rehab Site has treated 43 participants in group sessions since the launch of the program in fall of 2001. Donna was a member of the first group of 15 to enter the program.
Each session last six weeks, and 10-15 clients attend the peer group three mornings a week. The team, including a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Recreational Therapist, Dietitian and Physician, use a combination of treatments, rather than a single modality.
"Best practice has shown that a singe method, such as medication only, rarely works," says Barb Robinson, Program Manager. "Some of our clients have been living with chronic pain for years, and are fearful of trying exercise and hurting themselves. There is a real counselling aspect to our program that really seems to be working."
Donna was referred by her physician to the new program last year, and found the team of health care professionals helped emotionally as well as physically. "The team really showed me how to cope with my pain and got me to stop feeling sorry for myself. I used to be angry and frustrated all the time; now I can cope."
The excellent rehabilitation facility at Niagara Rehab meant Donna had access to a wide range of physiotherapy tools, including a swimming pool. She learned relaxation therapies, at-home exercises, and a host of other tools. Now Donna can open her dishwasher with one hand; she works out on a treadmill and is grateful every day for the difference it has made in her life. "I really can't say enough about the chronic pain program," she enthuses. "It has helped give me my life back."
Although the NHS team is the new kid on the block when it comes to chronic pain management programs, they have already been persuaded to host the 21st Annual Ontario Inter-Urban Pain Conference on October 11. This organization holds conferences twice a year and brings together health professionals from all disciplines to exchange information on aspects of pain. The theme for the Fall 2002 Conference is 'Chronic Pain Programs – Why they Work' and an impressive list of presenters will gather to discuss research and practical aspects for practitioners. This conference is open to health care professionals. Click here for more information.