• Yearly costs of chronic pain to the workers’ compensation system are estimated at $100 billion. (Bradford, Michael. 2002. Costs of chronic pain rising. Business Insurance 36, Issue 10 (October): 19.)

• Mismanagement of chronic pain causes over-utilization of diagnostic and treatment procedures, overuse of medications, depression, hospitalization, surgery and disability. (Loeser, JD. 1999. Economic implications of pain management. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 43: 957-959.)

• Fifty percent of those individuals who have been out of work for six months will return to work versus almost zero percent of those who have been out of work for two years due to an accident or injury. (Aronoff, Gerald M., and Jeffrey B. Feldman. 2000. Preventing disability from chronic pain. International Review of Psychiatry 12: 157-169.

• Decreasing dependence on medical intervention (including medications)
• Increasing self-management abilities in the areas of physical activities, mental relaxation, and spirituality
• Increasing functional level
• Returning to work as appropriate and ending the active treatment phase (MMI)

Each candidate is evaluated by our Medical Director (Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and in Pain Medicine), psychologist and physical therapist (specialist in treating chronic pain patients). Based on the collective evaluations, an appropriate level of services will be recommended, ranging from:

• Comprehensive – 24 units or hours of therapies and services per week

• Modified - 16 units or hours of therapies and services per week

• Basic – 8 units or hours of therapies and services per week

The mandatory and additional components of the multidisciplinary program are:

Mandatory

• Medical Director – ongoing medical supervision of the patient’s treatment plan, medication management and program coordination.
• Staffing – weekly case conference review of the patient’s progress by all involved disciplines, appropriate revisions to plan. Santé’s Case Manager regularly communicates with employer, payer and other health care professionals to obtain optimal outcomes.
• Physical Therapy – focuses on reconditioning, stretching exercises and pain reducing modalities, such as heat, ice, transcutaneous electrical stimulation.
• Psychology – addresses symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, supporting patient and family with education and stress management techniques.

Additional

• Biofeedback – teaches patients to develop control of their physiology and symptoms of chronic pain.
• Massage Therapy – involves soft tissue manipulations to improve circulation and decrease pain.
• Vocational – encourages patients to share information and concerns and address specific barriers to recovery.
• Nutrition – teaches patients how modifications in diet can positively impact their lives.
• Case Manager/Social Worker – plays a critical role in cost-effectively managing all aspects of treatment, from admission to potential return-to-work.
• Supervised Study – assigns reading, videos and related tests.
• Spiritual – assists patients to understand the importance of spirituality as it relates to recovery from illness and managing pain.

After graduation, patients participate in an aftercare program that includes a weekly group meeting led by a counselor and exercise twice a week at an appropriate facility (Fitness and Exercise Programs).

Santé Rehablitation is committed to providing evidence-based medicine and therapies to our patients. To learn more about how former Santé patients have benefited from our multi-disciplinary chronic pain management program use one of the following links:

ABSTRACT 1: two years post-accident, 41 year-old male returns to work after completing chronic pain management program

ABSTRACT 2: 18 months post work-related injury, 24-year-old woman avoids surgery and returns to work after completing chronic pain management program

We encourage you to discuss your needs with any member of the Santé Chronic Pain Management team.

In 2001, he returned to work as a chef for a local independent school district. Jeremy re-injured his back while rolling a loaded baker’s rack in the parking lot. When the rack hit a divot, his immediate reaction was to prevent it from falling over. Instead, Jeremy ended up underneath the rack and food. A myelogram showed that he had herniated a disk below his surgically fused disk. Throughout the recovery period, Jeremy had to submit appeals to the workers’ compensation program to receive medical treatment. He used hot and cold packs as well as Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation for the pain. Heavier doses of painkillers were also prescribed.

Frustrated with his limited physical improvement and aware of a growing dependence on the pain medication, Jeremy reviewed his options with his physician – surgery or biofeedback and individual psychotherapy at Santé Rehabilitation. Reluctant to undergo a second surgery, Jeremy opted for the second alternative.

While the sessions at Santé helped him deal with the pain, he was not recovering physically. The results of a functional evaluation capacity indicated that it was not safe for Jeremy to participate in a Work Hardening Program. Following numerous case conferences between Jeremy’s physician and Santé’s biofeedback specialist and psychotherapist, the physician recommended that he begin the Santé Pain Management Program. Physical therapy and massage were necessary to remove the adhesions from the surgery and re-injury and help Jeremy regain strength.

“Santé’s multidisciplinary chronic pain management program saved my life, said Jeremy. All components (physical therapy, massage, counseling, biofeedback, spiritual) helped me recover. Not only am I psychologically stronger, I am more active than before my second injury and my stamina is much improved.”

Following graduation from the pain management program, he is participating in Santé’s 10-week aftercare program. “These weekly group meetings are very helpful. I don’t want to take a chance and lapse back into old habits. I truly believe that if I had participated in this pain management program after the initial back injury, I would have had the techniques to cope with the pain until I needed the surgery. I would have never become dependent on the painkillers, said Jeremy.”

The experiences of the last five years have led to a change of careers for Jeremy. After completing his Associate of Applied Science degree, he plans to become a Physician’s Assistant. “As a Physician’s Assistant, I can help people and make a difference,” said Jeremy. It really is a new beginning.