Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Most people with chronic pain have tried multiple treatment strategies without relief. Pain can interfere with a person’s ability to work, participate in daily and recreational activities and may affect their relationships with family or friends. Over time people with chronic pain may restrict their activities, which in turn, causes them to become less physically fit to the point that even minor activities cause increased pain.
Physical and Occupational Therapists at Cleveland Clinic, work as part of an interdisciplinary team in the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program. The Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program has a strong exercise focus that helps patients gain strength, endurance, and flexibility. Education is a key component of the program for improving posture and body mechanics so that patients may resume their normal daily activities and regain enjoyment in their life.
Who is chronic pain rehabilitation program for?
Pain from an injury or disease usually subsides following medical care or disappears spontaneously. But for 40 million Americans, there is no relief from the pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. This type of pain is unresponsive to conventional treatments. Living with chronic pain requires a change in mindset so that chronic pain doesn’t evolve into a disability affecting daily activities, attitudes and relationships. The Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program addresses these issues with a multi-disciplinary team skilled in managing chronic pain.
Common diagnoses/conditions include:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Arthritis
- Headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Nerve damage
- Trauma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Gastrointestinal illness
- Other medical conditions associated with pain that lasts for more than 6 months or beyond the expected healing time
What does chronic pain rehabilitation program involve?
We create an individualized plan for each person. However, general components of the program include the following:
- Patients participate 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
- On average the program lasts three to four weeks
- Daily group physical and occupational therapy exercise classes and individual sessions as appropriate
- Patients are usually treated on an outpatient basis
- Inpatient or outpatient chemical dependency/detoxification program
- Treatment directed by pain management physicians, nurses and therapists
- Biofeedback training
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Chemical dependency counseling
- Nutritional instruction
- Family counseling
- Psychotherapy
- Relaxation training
- Aquatics
- Tai chi
- Yoga
How long will does the chronic pain rehabilitation program take?
If you are referred to this specialized service, prepare yourself for a unique three-to- four-week course of therapy designed to help those patients who are most devastated by physical and emotional pain. Rigorous, day-long clinics offer physical rehabilitation, stress and pain control regimens, and medication management.
Collaboration among all team members allows us to address all the aspects of the individual’s life that may be affected by chronic pain. The Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program at the Cleveland Clinic was started in 1979 and since then has helped more than 6,000 people manage their chronic pain.
More Information
Learn more about Cleveland Clinic's Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program.
C Building - W.O.Walker Center
10524 Euclid Ave. - Desk C22
Cleveland, OH 44195
216.445.8000