ABSTRACT
The literature on conventional medical procedures for restoring high-risk patients having chronic low back pain reveals that these procedures are ineffective and may even be iatrogenic. An alternative, noninvasive approach, which takes into consideration the critical role of cognitive and emotional factors, is practiced at Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitative Medicine. Details of the approach as well as comments confirming its efficacy are presented.
Subject(s)
Back Pain/therapy , Analgesics/administration & dosage , Back Pain/psychology , Biofeedback, Psychology , California , Chronic Disease , Emotions , Humans , Milieu Therapy , Patient Education as Topic , Rehabilitation, Vocational , Self Medication , Sick RoleABSTRACT
Seventy-two patients having chronic back pain, representative of high-risk demographic and personality populations, received a broad range of therapeutic modalities designed around the theme of self-regulation. The self-regulation principle was used in: (1) biofeedback training for teaching self-regulated muscle relaxation; (2) psychological counseling emphasizing self-control techniques for the management of stress and anxiety, including assertion training; (3) patient-regulated medication program; (4) patient involved case conferences; (5) physical therapy program emphasizing reconditoning; (6) comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services; (7) a series of educational lectures; (8) a therapeutic milieu designed for relaxation, recreation and socialization. Utilizing a success criteria of functional physical activity at discharge (average length of stay, 45 days) and levels of vocational restoration (employable, in training, or employed at 30 days postdischarge), 57 of the patients demonstrated unimpaired physical functioning levels and 59 of the patients were at success levels of vocational restoration.
