An alternative to opioids
a holistic approach worked the best for long-term pain management.
They launched IPRP in 2012, and the program received accreditation from the non-profit Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 2014.
“The idea is that they’ll have skills and tools to cope with pain,” Dr. Lee said. “[Opiates] are absolutely crucial for acute problems but we can’t translate that into long-term care.” He educates would-be users about both the limitations and dangers of opioid use.
Ms. Kirsch, who serves as the program’s medical director, sees the psychological aspect of pain as an important one to address: For her, that doesn’t mean that patients imagine their pain, but rather, that anxiety and despair amplify the sensation of pain.
“It’s the cliche, ‘Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional,’” she said.
At a recent weekly pain management session, Ms. Kirsch asked her patients to name the source of their pain. The six men and women seated around the table, whoBhUaRd a varAigeety93o,pf shonouStaetdu“rdyaoyu,rJburlyai2n3!,”2016, the patients to share how they had managed their pDaianvidthRr.o(uSghhaoruont )t,hReicwhaeredk.A., OJnae mt a(n swaiad th) aKtle trianffaic hRaodbmerat dCe.;fporoaudfrgursatnradtfiantgher commute that morning, and he had used deep breathing toserrved uinctehehUi.sS. tAernmsyidounr.ing AWnWotIhI earndmwaans, liacePuorfpfilceeHr,esaaritd.Ftrhieantdths ewrilel cent shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge had made his aBnrxoiwetnysv—illeanRdoahdi,sBpreanintw—ood sh15o2o2t t7h, rMouognhdathy,e7r-o9ofp.
Tu“eOsudrayb, r2a-i4nps.mar.eanadtta7c-9hepd.m. toFuonueralbPorday,e”r MonsW.Kedinrsecshday said. “If you’re upset, your pain is perceived as more severe.”
The patients had just come from a Tai Chi martial arts session, and would head to occupational and physical therapy next. Since 2012, 83 veterans have completed the program.
In the past year, 73 percent of the program’s participants reported reduction in their pain.
Mr. Pershing weened himself off drugs after starting the program. Now, he works nine hours a week at L.J. Aviation, restocking consumables and sealants. The job allows him to work in a environment he loves — MrD. IPAeNrsEhRinITgAu(sYeOdUtoNGfly) planAegse wofitWheosut tDeoevreTrw- strfaoirnminerglyhiomf sCerlaf.nberry When his pain gets bad, the veteran, who still takes acyuepaurnsctoufreWci la sasmes e PiltotsvbinugrgmhotVhAer, iSguhstanemM-atis pl(oJyoseopnhe)aonfdtJheennsifkeirlElsdwhaerds; learned in IPRP. “They call [the various pain-manageme nt s kiglls ] yo u r t,oo l b ag , ” heSstaeidn.b“eTrghe(Jyoshhno),waynoduDeoxn-ald erYciosuensg,a(Mndarwy)h; osrukrvsivfoerd you, you use.”