Pain management in EDS
Many patient with EDS/G-HSD live with varying degrees of pain.
Pain may be acute from recent injury, surgery, recurrent joint dislocation/subluxation or it may be chronic and something that patients live with every day.
Learning how to manage and live with chronic pain is an important step in managing the symptoms of EDS/G-HSD.
The EDS program can help patients manage their pain with the help of our pain management physicians, exercise rehabilitation program, psychologist and virtual resources such as manage my pain.
Chronic pain is managed using a combination of therapies and treatments
Physical rehabilitation
Movement and physical rehabilitation are a crucial part of chronic pain management. Movement helps to maintain an optimal level of physical function and may include:
-
exercise, movement, and physical activity
-
activity modification
-
Physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation
Interventional pain procedures
Some patients may benefit from referral to an interventional pain specialist who can provide more invasive ways to manage pain. These may include:
-
nerve blocks, steroid injections, trigger point injections, or prolotherapy
Pain medication
Different medications can be used to help manage chronic pain. It may take some time working with your health care team to find the right medications to manage your pain.
These may include medications such as:
-
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
-
acetaminophen
-
anticonvulsants
-
antidepressants
-
muscle relaxants
Self Management
Self management is an important part of chronic pain management.
Self management can include:
-
meditation
-
support groups
-
dietary practices
-
pain neuroscience education
-
relaxation and breathing exercises
-
life skills and self-efficacy programs
Psychological interventions
Psychological interventions are an important aspect of managing chronic pain. These may include:
-
cognitive behavioral therapy
-
acceptance and commitment therapy
-
support groups
-
education sessions
-
individual and group psychotherapy
-
mindfulness-based interventions
Manual Therapy
Alternative manual therapies provided by health care practitioners can be helpful ways to manage pain.
These may include:
-
acupuncture
-
massage therapy
-
physical therapies
-
osteopathic treatments
Adapted from government of Canada chronic pain website (www.canada.ca)
The GoodHope EDS pain management program works with patients and their primary care providers to develop a plan of care to help manage their pain.
Using a combination of virtual and in-person care patients are assessed and provided with recommendations for pain management. This may include medication recommendations, physical rehabilitation or psychology referrals and alternative therapy recommendation outside of the GoodHope EDS clinic.