Patients Praise ‘ Life-Altering ’ Pain Management Program

BOSTON (CBS) – Five years ago Julie Karaganis injured her left arm during a power yoga class. The 38 -year old a stay-at-home mom of two became virtually paralyzed with pain.
“I stopped doing laundry and groceries and cooking and everything.  And my kids call it the bad arm and just knew that I couldn’t do what they wanted me to do.”
Karaganis tried everything including surgery, nerve ablations, injections and narcotic pain pills.
Eve Kennedy-Spaien, a certified pain specialist, says opioids aren’t very useful for chronic pain.
“In the short run with acute pain those medications can be very helpful.  But when it’s a chronic issue, it actually increases instead of decreases the pain level and you end up needing more and it’s become a huge crisis,” explains Kennedy-Spaien.
Desperate for relief, Karaganis went to Spaulding Rehab in Medford, which according to Kennedy-Spaien, has the most comprehensive pain program in the country.  Patients receive mental health counseling, physical and occupational therapy, biofeedback, and classes like yoga and Tai chi.
A pain management course helps patients learn to cope. (WBZ-TV)
“Eighty percent of the patients who graduate this program, these are people who have had pain up to 20 years, have had significant functional changes and 88% report extreme improvement in their life satisfaction,” says Kennedy-Spaien.
Thirty-eight-year-old Ben Dick, who has had pain since he was 10 years old, is nervous about taking ...

Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - October 18, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Dr. Mallika Marshall Pain Source Type: news