A comprehensive team approach is the most successful way to treat chronic pain. At St. John’s Multidisciplinary Center for Pain Management, patients will benefit from a team of psychologists, physical therapists and nurses all specially trained to help manage chronic pain disorders. We offer a wide range of treatments options to allow patients to individually understand and manage their chronic pain.

We begin with an evaluation to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. Following this initial analysis, our staff will recommend a treatment plan customized to each patient’s needs.

Types of Evaluations

¢ Behavioral Medicine Evaluation – Allows our healthcare providers to understand the important factors that are hindering a patient to effectively manage their pain and discover what strategies might be of help.

¢ Pre-Surgical Psychological Evaluation – Allows our healthcare providers to understand a patient’s risk to be affected by psychosocial factors post surgery. These factors can lead to changes in the body’s healing, immune functions and pain.

Types of Treatment Plans:

¢ Intensive Chronic Pain Treatment Program – Teaches patients to reduce their experience of suffering from chronic pain and develop more optimistic and assertive lifestyles. Treatment includes group behavioral medicine and physical therapy.

¢ The Basics – An introductory group designed to meet the needs of patients not ready for a more intensive program. Patients learn how to get started with the first steps of pain management.

Types of Individual Treatment:

¢ Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – Offers a proven method to reduce pain, disability and distress. The Health Psychologist works with the patient to identify his or her specific negative thoughts related to pain and utilizes a variety of tools to help increase the patients activity level, quality of life and productive functioning.

¢ Trauma Treatment & EMDR – Pain, and the events which caused the pain, can cause trauma and change the way the mind and body work. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one option to treat patients with chronic pain. For more information, click here:
www.edmdria.org

¢ Biofeedback – A relaxation technique that teaches a person to become more aware of their physiological responses. Sensors can be attached to the body to measure body responses that can affect mental status. Simple techniques, such as changing breathing pattern, flexing a muscle, or practice of a personalized relaxation strategy can be utilized to bring about changes. For more information on Biofeedback:
http://www.aapb.org/

¢ Neurofeedback – Neurofeedback is a procedure that measures a person’s brainwaves (via sensors applied to the scalp) in real time and then provides feedback to the patient. Based on the findings, techniques are employed to modify brainwaves through the use of reinforcement. Relaxation techniques, mediation, guided imagery, diaphramatic breathing, and emotional regulation techniques can also be added to the treatment regimen to facilitate response. The ultimate goal of neurofeedback training is to induce relaxation while helping to improve nervous system response.
http://www.aboutneurofeedback.com/
http://www.isnr.org/

¢ Psychophysiological Tension - is a term that relates to the inter-relationships between mood, physical state, stress, mindset, personal awareness, and response. Improvements in relaxation and mood are key goals for addressing pain and discomfort.