Pain Management
Chronic pain can restrict meaningful occupation (activity) that a client wants to or needs to get back to performing, this can lead to an alteration in their mental health and well-being. They can often either withdraw completely or get into a boom/bust cycle of activity ever waiting for their “good day” to complete it.
Sometimes / often pain is an issue in progressing occupational therapy rehabilitation goals. Rehabilitate Therapy has a dedicated pain management team who specialise in the management of long term “chronic” pain. This service is considered if the client requires further specialised intervention from that of the occupational therapist involved. The emphasis is on goal progression and supporting clients with their pain self-management.
The client's OT can step out while this happens as pain is so debilitating that nothing else can progress, alternatively the pain specialist OT and client's assess/rehab OT work alongside each other for a time – but providing their own specific intervention programme.
The impact of living with pain for our clients can be:
> Reduced physical function
> Poor sleep
> Low mood
> Increased stress
> Impact on relationships
> Feelings of isolation
Our APPROACH
The focus for the specialist occupational therapists at Rehabilitate Therapy is to enable our clients with chronic pain to participate in the activities they wish to by the following interventions:> Education to understand pain
> Develop awareness and acceptance
> Development of self-management strategies to use
> Activity management and adaptation
> Mood management and adaptation
> Creating a self management and relapse plan
Example client goals requiring pain management:
(Please note these are just indicative areas - we do so much more...)
> Return to Work
> Restore Movement
> Fatigue Management
> Community Access
> Vocational Rehabilitation
Rehabilitate Therapy OTs providing pain management...
