COPES ExTRA trial Co-PIs Alicia Heapy, PhD and Diana Higgins, PhD, talked with PMC about improving access to psychology-based approaches for chronic pain treatment by incorporating technology-based interventions.
Four PMC PIs note a need for better pathways for pain management in the United States, given the divide between the way pain care was actually delivered and the recommended, evidenced-based practices and guidelines set forth in the scientific literature.
Recently, a multidisciplinary group of leading experts in pain updated the definition of “pain” on behalf of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Particularly relevant is the acknowledgement that pain is a personal, subjective and multidimensional experience that can be shaped by a range of biological, psychological and social factors.
Karen Seal, MD, MPH, explains integrative and integrated healthcare, as well as the VA’s Whole Health model, its components, and its benefits. Dr. Seal also shares what the model does for patient care and pain management, as well as discusses using mind-body approaches to meet the unique, multi-dimensional needs of veterans with chronic pain.
It is important to honestly and openly share your experiences with chronic pain with your provider(s). You’ll want to be prepared for a series of questions that providers are likely to ask. Think about the following items, and perhaps take notes about your pain experience for a few weeks prior to the appointment.