Self Management

Chronic Pain can be managed in a number of different ways. While there is no immediate cure for chronic pain implementing strategies/techniques through self management can help reduce your pain, improve the quality of your life and puts you, not the pain, in control.

Self-Management

Prior to COVID-19, CPI has been running our Self-Management Strategies (SMS) meetings since the early 1990’s and these intensive one-day meetings give a speedy and effective insight into the benefits of self-management in relation to chronic pain. 

Like many chronic long term illnesses there is no immediate cure for Chronic Pain. However implementing strategies/techniques through self management can help reduce your pain, improve the quality of your life and puts you, not the pain, in control. 

Good Health Literacy is defined as the ability to seek, understand and utilise health information. If you are knowledgeable about your condition you will be better able to self manage and also deal with others who do not understand your condition

Our Self Management Strategies meetings are designed to provide you with the tools to self manage and better understand your condition. Your physician may not have all the answers or for that matter any answer in treating your condition. It is a very complex health matter to deal with. Pain is invisible. Remember it is not your healthcare professionals’ responsibility to ‘cure’ you. You have to take more responsibility for the management of your condition.

While all in-person self-management strategy events are cancelled, Chronic Pain Ireland has a number of recorded video's that are available via our online library.  See here

We hope to resume in-person events when it is safe to do so.

Testimonials:

A big thank you for great information & relaxation we learnt today, I am tired, in pain but now I have great tools to use from today and it was well worth the effort to attend.  Thanks again to all at CPI for providing these courses. F Horlick

Last Saturday's course was terrific. It was well-organised, practical and very user-friendly. It was lovely to be able to enjoy a pleasant and useful workshop with a facilitator who understood the needs of chronic pain sufferers. R Walsh

I have just become a member of CPI. I attended a meeting not knowing how it was going to work out and a bit apprehensive. I have to say that it surpassed my expectations  i.e. you are able to take your own pace when trying relaxation techniques and the information I received was very informative . The meeting was just the right length of time and I would look forward to going again. C Bell

 

 

Strategies Reviewed at Meetings

  1. Pacing Activities
  2. Values and Choices
  3. Consuming Wisely
  4. Using Medication Appropriately
  5. Moving/Exercising
  6. Easing Tensions
  7. Improving Sleep
  8. Using Distraction
  9. Thinking Constructively
  10. Socializing/Recreate
  11. Improving Mood
  12. Using Good ErgonomicsManaging Relationships

Remember

  1. 99% of the time on your own - 1% with Healthcare professionals.
  2. Establish baselines for regaining your fitness. Set Goals.
  3. Stress is the body’s response to a threat.
  4. All your attention is on the threat.
  5. Stress releases cortisol which speeds up nerve signals.
  6. Anxiety/negativity sets in.
  7. Catastrophising – Thinking the worst.
  8. Stress and Pain have a strong relationship.
  9. Life – causes stress/anxiety
  10. Understanding more about your condition
  11. Use distraction
  12. Do something you love doing
  13. Do something with meaning
  14. Think of what you can do rather than what you can't
  15. At the end of each day write down five positive things you have done that day
  16. Fillers - Drainers.  Fillers build up reserves.  Drainers reduce reserves.

Self management should be a healthcare priority.

Research has shown that best results are achieved where the Patient and Carer attend a Self Management meeting: Good result where the Patient attends on one’s own and poor results where patient uses the internet.

Self Management is not understood by healthcare decision makers.

Strategies Reviewed at Meetings

  1. Pacing Activities
  2. Consuming Wisely
  3. Using Medication Appropriately
  4. Moving/Exercising
  5. Easing Tensions
  6. Improving Sleep
  7. Using Distraction
  8. Thinking Constructively
  9. Socializing/Recreate
  10. Improving Mood
  11. Using Good Ergonomics
  12. Managing Relationships
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