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Resources

The educational resources and tools listed here are for you to take advantage of. All require you to make some sort of investment in your own well being  – time, energy, commitment and occasionally dollars. Medication alone will not improve the quality of your life…it is only an adjunct – something to help. Many of the resources listed here are actually the primary tools that you will need to understand how you can improve and live your best life.

Be sure and scroll down the page to find what you need. This page will be updated as time goes on, so check back often. Also check out the multi-media page for videos and audio recordings we run across.

Books of interest

Chronic Pain 

  • Take Back Your Meds. Disposing of medications can be confusing. You can’t flush them, put them in the garbage disposal and you may be concerned about throwing them away. So how to you get rid of them safely? Visit http://www.takebackyourmeds.org/ to learn more about disposing of your medications safely and where you can drop them off.
  • 10 Daily Habits To Reduce Chronic Pain – Excellent!
  • Take As Directed
  • American Chronic Pain Association: Education for individual with chronic pain and their families. Includes communication tools, coping skills, ten steps to managing chronic pain, and online forums and videos.  http://theacpa.org/default.aspx
  • American Pain Foundation: Information and resources about pain, online support, and information specifically for military personnel and veterans. http://painfoundation.org/
  • Pain Safe Safety and Access for everyone.  http://www.painfoundation.org/painsafe/
  • Pain Action: Self assessment tools that provide individualized recommendations for evidenced-base pain management, learning modules dedicated specifically to managing back pain and migraines, practical pain self management techniques, managing the risk of opioid pain medication and tips for pain management provided by peers.  http://painaction.com/
  • How to Manage Chronic Pain – Ask Dr. Silver on Health Radio. Many people who take medications for chronic pain sometimes wonder, “Is there more that I could be doing to better manage my condition?” Increasingly, research is showing that the answer is yes. Dr. Robert Bonakdar of the American Academy of Pain Management joins the show to explains how to use an integrative approach to manage chronic pain.

Coaching:   

  • Deborah Kiley, DNP, NP - Dr Deborah Kiley is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Integrative Health Coach with many years experience working with patients with chronic pain. To provide convenient access to coaching, she provides health coaching using the telephone or skype.Chronic pain impacts more than a person’s body- it affects their emotions, energy and relationships at home and at work. As an NP with extensive experience in assisting patients with chronic pain to optimize their health, Dr Kiley brings a special perspective to health coaching people with chronic pain. She collaborates with her clients to improve all areas of their lives .   Contact information: DKiley@TelePresenceCoaching.com or her website @ http://www.telepresencecoaching.com/

Depression/Anxiety (short blurb about mental health, mood, etc)

  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America: General information about anxiety disorders, how to find help and tips for managing anxiety. www.adaa.org
  • Depression Screening: confidential online depression screening est, symptoms and treatments, personal stories and sources of help. www.depressionscreening.org
  • National Institute of Mental Health: General information about mental health topics including signs and symptoms, treatment and locating local services www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Exercising: Exercise is essential, but so is the proper kind of exercise. When you are in pain this is difficult. However, the exercises we are talking about below are gentle and can be performed by nearly everyone. Find one that works for you and stick with it. You will find videos of the exercises below on YouTube or other video outlets as well as DVDs in your local library.

  • Tia Chi
  • Qi Gong/Chi Gong
  • Yoga
  • Stretching
  • Chair Exercises

Fibromyalgia – Yes, fibromyalgia is indeed real. It’s vitally important that you become educated in the best ways to manage it. You cannot be passive!

Headaches – Research into the management of headaches continues to evolve. There are lots of good treatments and like everything else, you have to stick with it.

  • National Headache Foundation: A headache education program centered on the key principles of headache care. Education for patients and providers.

Hypnosis – You know how they say “it’s in your head”? Well, it’s true. Our minds control everything. Hypnosis is a good way to begin to get a handle on it. There are several good providers in the Olympia area.  Check out the library for self hypnosis audio recordings.

Medications 

  • Understand your Medications: If you do not understand how to take your medication, the side effects you may experience or any other information about your medication, please ASK!
  • Protect your medication – It is essential that you protect your medication. Real problems (even death) happen when medication gets into the hands of people who should not be taking it. It could be your children, your grandchildren, their friends, your neighbors, your friends and even the plumber. You are responsible for the safe storage of your medication – please take this seriously.
  • Take back your medication – The CDC and the DEA sponsor “Take Back” days around the country where you can take your old medications for proper disposal. Check http://www.takebackyourmeds.org/ for the next statewide “Take Back your Meds”.
  • Take as directed - There is a reason there are directions with your medications: Do Not Chew, Do Not Split, Take Four times per day, etc. It’s there for safety and therapeutic efficacious (making it the most effective for you). Again, if directions are unclear – ASK.
  • Methadone can be an effective medication, but only when used correctly. It can be deadly. Download this document from the University of Washington to learn some of the risks. NEVER adjust your medication yourself.

Sleep

  • National Sleep Foundation: General information about sleep health and safety, and sleep-related problems. www.sleepfoundation.org
  • Sleep Hygiene…sounds simple and easy…so easy that many dismiss it’s power. Don’t do that! Sleep is critical to your well being AND it will help reduce your pain. This pdf document is offered by the Vancouver Island Health Authority and lists 12 tips to ensure you get the sleep you body craves.