Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain

Dr. Stants is a facilitator in the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain program. This program is a free, six week workshop for anyone suffering from pain, which could include but is not limited to: low back pain, pain from motor vehicle accidents, arthritis,chronic pain includes such conditions as back pain, whiplash injuries, diabetic neuropathy, persistent headache, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, shingles and severe muscular pain due to multiple sclerosis.

The workshops are offered throughout Eastern Ontario and is coordinated through the Bruyere Hospital. Anyone can register themselves for a workshop, no referral from a health care professional is needed. A family member, friend or caregiver who is supporting someone with chronic pain may also attend even if the person living with chronic pain does not.

In this program, four concepts are emphasized:

Each person with chronic pain is different. There is no one treatment or approach that is right for everybody.
There are a number of things people with chronic pain can do to feel better. These things will not eliminate pain, but they will help you to better manage pain, and help you to become more active and more involved in life.
With knowledge and by experimenting, each individual is the best judge of which self-management tools and techniques are best for him or her.
The responsibility for managing your chronic pain day-to-day rests with you, not anybody else. Many people can assist you – your family and friends and your health care team. But, in the end, the responsibility for self-management is yours.

Workshops are highly interactive and offer the Moving Easy Program which is a gentle movement program in addition to the topics listed below.

Session 1

What is Pain?
The Mind-Body Connection/Distraction
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Introduction to Action Plans

Session 2

Feedback and Problem-Solving
Dealing with Difficult Emotions
Introduction to Physical Activity and Exercise
Better Breathing and Relaxation Body Scan
Fatigue Management
Making an Action Plan

Session 3

Feedback and Problem-Solving
Moving Easy Program (10 minute exercise program done sitting down or standing up with a chair)
Pacing and Planning
Evaluating Treatments
Making Decisions
Making an Action Plan

Session 4

Practice Moving Easy Program
Healthy Eating
Communication Skills (Using “I” Messages)
Problem-Solving
Making an Action Plan

Session 5

Feedback and Problem-Solving
Practice Moving Easy Program
Medications for Chronic Pain
Dealing with Depression
Positive Thinking
Stress and Guided Imagery Relaxation
Making an Action Plan

Session 6

Feedback
Working with Your Health Care Professional and Health Care Organization
Communicating about Pain
Weight Management
Looking Back and Planning for the Future

Workshop Registration

If you would like to look for a workshop, go to https://www.livinghealthychamplain.ca/en/workshops or call 1-877-240-3941 for more information.