The successful management of chronic pain most often requires comprehensive approaches that include self-care, psychological, functional-restorative, and alternative-integrative approaches to complement medical treatments. Self-management or self-directed approaches may include psychological self-help, relaxation techniques, behavioral approaches, online support, group support, nutrition, graded exercise, and other approaches. In many cases, it is crucial to provide self-management support and motivate patients to become active participants in their own treatment process. It is important for clinicians to understand that most patients will experience flare-ups, as well as the factors that contribute to pain flare-ups and the self-management interventions to apply when flare-ups occur. Interventions include: activity pacing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, self-hypnosis, mindfulness meditative techniques, distraction, and stimulation-based procedures like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), massage, heat, or ice.

Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to: