{"id":7986,"date":"2024-12-11T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7986"},"modified":"2024-12-11T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T15:30:00","slug":"comprehensive-care-for-chronic-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7986","title":{"rendered":"Comprehensive care for chronic pain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-12-11T15:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/columbia-south-carolina-health-care\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Columbia VA\u2019s<\/a> Outpatient Interdisciplinary Pain Program (OIPP) offers a holistic approach to managing chronic pain, addressing not only the physical aspects but also the emotional and psychological factors. This innovative program offers Veterans the tools and knowledge they need to manage their pain and improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n<p>Chronic pain can have a significant impact on a Veteran\u2019s ability to function in daily life, affecting everything from work and social activities to sleep and emotional health. The OIPP provides Veterans with a comprehensive treatment plan that goes beyond pain medication to include a combination of education, therapy and support.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know that pain is a multifaceted issue so we approach it from a variety of angles,\u201d said Deborah Reyes, program director. \u201cEach component of the program is designed to help Veterans develop lifelong skills to manage their pain, improve their functioning and enhance their overall well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Veterans in the program will participate in weekly group sessions and individual appointments with various specialists.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain management education: Veterans learn about the physiological processes behind pain and how to take an active role in managing it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Physical therapy: Tailored exercise routines are developed to increase strength, mobility and flexibility, helping to reduce pain and improve movement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Psychological support: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques are taught to help Veterans cope with the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany chronic pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Whole health approach: The program treats the entire body with education on nutrition, sleep, medication use and body science.\u00a0We utilize a variety of treatments that compliment traditional approaches to address pain, such as adaptive yoga, tai chi, acupressure and battlefield acupuncture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pictured above, physical therapist Amanda Brooks walks with Veteran Regina McFarlan during the exercise portion of the program.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An opportunity for mutual learning in a supportive environment<\/h2>\n<p>Group sessions, which take place weekly, are a key part of the program. \u201cGroup settings offer peer support, where Veterans can share their experiences and offer advice to one another. It\u2019s an opportunity for mutual learning in a safe, supportive environment,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n<p>The program runs in six-week cycles, alternating between in-person and virtual groups with new groups starting about every three months. Veterans also have one-on-one appointments with a pain social worker throughout the program to help personalize their treatment goals.<\/p>\n<p>Group sizes are kept to a small number of 6-10 Veterans, ensuring each participant receives personalized attention and care. Veterans in the program will not only engage in education and therapy but will also practice new strategies, incorporating them into their daily routines. The program encourages consistency and dedication, making it important for participants to commit to the full six weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t think I had time for a six-week program, but I\u2019m so glad I stuck with it,\u201d said Army Veteran Juan Lanzot. \u201cThe tools I\u2019ve learned have made a real difference in how I manage my pain day-to-day.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cIt taught me strategies I still use every day.\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>Veterans who complete the virtual and in-person programs report a significant improvement in both their physical and emotional well-being. Army Veteran Diane Balog shared her experience: \u201cI had been living with chronic pain for years and nothing seemed to help. This was my last hope, and I\u2019m so glad I took the chance. I didn\u2019t think I could find a way to deal with my pain, but this program showed me a whole new perspective. It taught me strategies that I still use every day. The psychological support in the program was life changing. It didn\u2019t just focus on the pain. It also helped me handle the emotional side of living with chronic pain. It was the first time in years that I felt like I was in control of my life again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lanzot emphasized how the program helped him in ways he didn\u2019t anticipate. \u201cAt first, I didn\u2019t think I could commit to such a long program. But now that I\u2019ve completed it, I see how worth it it was. The program gave me tools that I\u2019ll carry with me for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The program provides Veterans with a new perspective on pain management, one that doesn\u2019t rely solely on medications but instead offers strategies for long-term coping and healing.<\/p>\n<p>Veterans leave the program with improved mobility, a better understanding of their pain and a greater sense of confidence in managing it. Whether Veterans are struggling with everyday tasks, social interactions, or simply coping with the stress of living with pain, the program provides the support needed to move forward.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/136886\/comprehensive-care-for-chronic-pain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Columbia VA\u2019s pain program addresses not only the physical aspects but also the emotional and psychological factors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Comprehensive care for chronic pain - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Columbia VA\u2019s pain program addresses not only the physical aspects but also the emotional and psychological factors.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7986\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Comprehensive care for chronic pain - 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