Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital offers treatment programs for chronic pain

Chronic pain is a condition characterized by pain that won’t subside and frequently won’t respond to medical intervention alone. It can cause changes in a patient’s nervous system, adding to an already dysfunctional mechanical issue. This can be difficult to treat without a proven pain management program.

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital offers an integrative approach to eliminating or reducing chronic pain, combining various treatments such as physical therapy, psychology, and medication management. “We offer a 21-day outpatient pain program that is very successful,” said Dr. Silpa Katta, Medical Director of Marianjoy’s Integrative Pain Treatment Center. “We see many patients who have moved from provider to provider, who haven’t found relief for their pain, which may be due to a work injury or a chronic illness, for example. Their pain interferes with their quality of life; it affects their job and their family; and it can lead to anxiety and depression.”

Lisa Schwarz, the Pain Management Program Coordinator at Marianjoy, notes the program is designed “to educate our patients about their pain and the changes in their nervous system,” said Schwarz.  “We treat the whole patient, not just one area. Our physical therapists have an average of 24 years of experience, which leads to great success with our program.”

Schwarz explained that Marianjoy has some unique treatment options not available at many facilities. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging is used to help retrain muscles can help patients learn to use them more effectively and without pain. Biofeedback is another non-invasive technique utilizing electronic measuring devices to monitor the body’s functions, including muscle tension, breathing rate, and heart rate. This helps patients learn to relax certain muscles and use others more efficiently.

Dr. Katta is very proud of Marianjoy Integrated Pain Management Program. “Our physical therapists are very special,” she explained. “They are the true drivers of our program. They develop expertise in this complex area, and they are very interested and invested in helping patients with their chronic pain.” For more information about this wonderful program, please contact:

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

26W171 Roosevelt Road

Wheaton, IL  60187

630-909-8000

[ www.marianjoy.org ]