Helping Patients Cope

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Express Learner-In this module, you will read the overview, watch a brief "how to explain pain" video and review the "Get on the Road to Recovery", "Persistent Gain Wheel", "CAM Options for Pain" and "CBT to Reduce" infographics. 

Expert Learner-In addition, watch two additional videos on how to introduce exercise for improved pain control and a meditation primer.  There are also additional resources and links. 

Overview 

Chronic Pain and How to Help

  • Many patients have unreasonable expectations that pain medication will ease ALL of their sufferings.
  • Medication will only help with about 25-30% pain relief.
  • A holistic body and mind approach is required.
  • Many patients do not consider how things like poor sleep, nutrition, lack of exercise, or untreated depression/anxiety can contribute to compounding pain symptoms.
  • Opioids can also cause hypersensitivity to pain and can stop working after a short period of time. 
  • Opioids can help manage pain in the short term, however not enough evidence exists about the benefits of long-term opioid use

     

Learn how to talk to your patients about chronic pain using a holistic approach

  • Watch the short video below for useful analogy in communicating alternative options for pain management

Running time 2:02 minutes 

Link Links to an external site.

Review and Utilize Specially Designed Patient Communication Tool

  • This tool assists patients to think through a menu of choices and illustrates the point that pain medication is only one part of the whole equation. 

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Download Get on The Road to Recovery Aimee Techau 2017.pdf

 Review the Persistent Pain Wheel vs. Persistent Gain Wheel 

  • Utilize this tool to help communicate the difference between a persistent pain cycle vs. persistent gain cycle

Choosing Your Wheels-Pain Wheel.png

Download Choosing your Wheels-Persistent Gain Wheel-Patient Handout .pdf

Learn Basic CBT Skills

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a top recommended treatment for chronic pain offering an astounding 30-50% reduction in pain intensity. 
  • Print this short CBT exercise that you can do with all your patients experiencing pain. 

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Download CBT in Three Simple Steps 2017 AACN-NIDA.pdf

  • Use Unhelpful Thinking Style Worksheet to Facilitate the Conversation 

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  Download unhelpful-thinking-styles-free-en-us.pdf

View the CAM infographic

  • Specially created to discuss non-pharmacological and complementary alternative methods for pain. Research sourced from the NIH website.

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Download Complementary_Alternative_Approaches_to_Pain 2017.pdf

-PLEASE CLICK HERE 3 Pages 

Expert Path-Optional 

S.O.A.R. Conversation on Introducing Exercise 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fQTJiSz8K4 Links to an external site.

Meditation Primer 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqUQv0DfARg Links to an external site.

Additional Resources 

PAIN-EDU Site for Provider Training on Pain-Topics -EXCELLENT 

https://www.painedu.org/index.asp Links to an external site.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/professional Links to an external site.

American Chronic Pain Association -Helpful patient site with pain tracking tools, tips, and support groups. 

https://theacpa.org/ Links to an external site.