Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain

man and woman sitting outside with their backs together

This is a FREE 6-week program for adults of all ages who live with Chronic Pain. This could include but is not limited to arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, repetitive strain injury, phantom limb pain, back or neck pain, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, lupus and other pain related conditions.

This peer-led group meets for 2.5 hours a week over 6 weeks. Many topics are covered from the lens of chronic pain including mind-body connection, sleep, action planning, dealing with difficult emotions, physical activity, better breathing, pacing and planning, healthy eating, communication skills, problem-solving, stress management, working with your healthcare team and much more.

Participants in this workshop will receive both a chronic pain Self-Management Program resource guide book and a Moving Easy Program designed to provide gentle strength training, safely improve flexibility, and better breathing to help reduce stress and tension.

Family members and caregivers are also welcome. Anyone can register for this workshop.

This program is available in French

What You Will Learn

Each session has a direct focus:

Session 1

  • What is Pain?
  • The Mind-Body Connection/Distraction
  • Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
  • Introduction to Action Plans

Session 2

  • Feedback and Problem-Solving
  • Dealing with Difficult Emotions
  • Introduction to Physical Activity and Exercise
  • Better Breathing and Relaxation Body Scan
  • Fatigue Management
  • Making an Action Plan

Session 3

  • Feedback and Problem-Solving
  • Moving Easy Program (10 minute exercise program done sitting down or standing up with a chair)
  • Pacing and Planning
  • Evaluating Treatments
  • Making Decisions
  • Making an Action Plan

Session 4

  • Practice Moving Easy Program
  • Healthy Eating
  • Communication Skills (Using “I” Messages)
  • Problem-Solving
  • Making an Action Plan

Session 5

  • Feedback and Problem-Solving
  • Practice Moving Easy Program
  • Medications for Chronic Pain
  • Dealing with Depression
  • Positive Thinking
  • Stress and Guided Imagery Relaxation
  • Making an Action Plan

Session 6

  • Feedback
  • Working with Your Health Care Professional and Health Care Organization
  • Communicating about Pain
  • Weight Management
  • Looking Back and Planning for the Future

In this program, four concepts are emphasized:

  • Each person with chronic pain is different. There is no one treatment or approach that is right for everybody.
  • There are a number of things people with chronic pain can do to feel better. These things will not eliminate pain, but they will help you to better manage pain, and help you to become more active and more involved in life.
  • With knowledge and by experimenting, each individual is the best judge of which self-management tools and techniques are best for him or her.
  • The responsibility for managing your chronic pain day-to-day rests with you, not anybody else. Many people can be of help to you – your family and friends, your health care team. But, in the end, the responsibility for self-management is yours.