Our Comprehensive Program
What
is it?
Intense and comprehensive,
multidisciplinary (many doctors
and therapists) treatment
for severe and chronic pain
syndromes in confidential,
secure and medically supervised
environments, first at St.
Helena Hospital, a medical
facility, for an initial
three day evaluation and
then at Cold
Springs Center, a seperate,
licensed, non-medical residential
facility for detoxofication
and functional restoration.
When chronic pain triggers
a "collection" of difficult,
interacting symptoms that
added together with the pain
itself results in significant suffering
and disability comprehensive
treatment may be necessary.
These symptoms grow out of
our physical, psychological,
and chemical reactions to
pain. Typical symptoms can
include:
- Persistent
pain
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Medication
dependence
- Muscle wasting
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- Weight gain
- Decreased
sex drive
- Loss of employment
- Relationship
problems
- Litigation
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To begin unraveling this "knot" of
problems, we first complete
an initial evaluation of
each patient's medical records,
examine the potential patient, and
complete comprehensive questionnaires.
If suitable for treatment,
a date is set for admission
(see our annual calendar of
programs).
On the first day of admission,
patients arrive at our offices
and begin the admission process.
Patients are usually admitted
for a three day in-patient
stay at St. Helena Hospital
for evaluation and preliminary
stabilization. In some cases
patients may be admitted
directly to the Cold Springs Center,
skipping the hospital in-patient stay
altogether if found suitable
for this approach during
the initial evaluation.
After hospital treatment,
patients are then discharged
to Cold Springs to complete
the remainder of their treatment
program as a residential out-patient.
The complete results of the in-patient
evaluation follows the patient
through their residential
out-patient treatment. All
doctors and therapists attending
also follow each patient through
their entire program.
During treatment several
important things are undertaken:
- slow tapering off of
narcotics and benzodiazepines
- Development of improved
pain tolerance and reduction
- Physical and psychological
strengthening
- Weight loss
- Improved overall functioning
- Endurance, flexibility,
range of motion
- Reduction of depression
- Improved self-discipline
- Education and re-learning
- Skills at personal pain
management
- Acquire 8 - 10 hours
of daily functioning
Patients are assigned a prescribed
set of therapies and activities
and are assisted in the successful
completion of these supervised
activities. Our focus is
on effective management and
pain reduction, not cure.
Daily activities can include,
exercise physiology, psychotherapy,
group therapy, pain education,
medication management, pain
management, stress management,
aquatic therapy, biofeedback,
family therapy, chemical
dependency counseling, and nutritional
assessment.
Family therapy is encouraged
which entails a family member
or "significant other"
being available to participate
on a once weekly basis with
the patient and staff in
the therapy/education process.
Additional consultations
for radiology, orthopedics,
or any other medical needs
beyond our immediate staff
are available at nearby St.
Helena Hospital.
At the end of treatment, patients
in some instances feel
much improved with more energy,
less pain focus and disruption
and far more strength without
narcotics or benzodiazepines.
In some instances, medications
such as anti-inflammatory,
anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, or
other medications are continued
if medically necessary.
Visitors are encouraged to
call our office at (707)
963-1493 prior to visiting
to arrange their visit,
which is allowed on
weekends.
After successful completion
of the intensive in-patient
and residential out-patient
program patients return home
and continue follow-up at
PPM for one year on a tapering basis.
Follow-up begins immediately on
a twice monthly basis for
one year. Since patients
sometimes come to our programs from
long distances, telephone
or other types of appointments can
be arranged on an "as needed
basis".
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