The Living Well with Chronic Pain Program is the Maryland version of the Chronic Pain SelfManagement Program and is a six-week workshop that helps people with chronic pain learn how to better manage their symptoms and their daily lives. The workshop provides information and teaches practical skills. It helps people gain the confidence and motivation they need to manage the challenges of living with chronic pain. The next session will run Feb. 28 through April 11 and meet virtually on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 410 996 5168 to register for the next Living Well with Chronic Pain.

Adults experiencing chronic pain. For example, chronic musculoskeletal pain, such as chronic neck, shoulder, back pain, etc.) arthritis, fibromyalgia,  whiplash injuries, repetitive strain injury, pelvic pain, post-surgical pain that lasts beyond six months, neuropathic pain (often caused by trauma),  neuralgias (such as post-herpetic pain, and trigeminal neuralgia), post-stroke, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s Disease, diabetic neuropathy, severe muscular pain due to conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis.

The program is free of charge for participants and attendees receive the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic
Conditions course book, the Chronic Pain Workbook, and the Moving Easy Program CD.

Concerned family and friends may also attend although registration is required.

Workshop groups meet once a week for six weeks. There are typically ten to sixteen
participants in each workshop. In the workshop they will learn techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep; exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance; how to use medications correctly; improve communication skills; eat healthily; pace their activity and rest, and how to evaluate new treatments.

Participants take an active role in the workshop. They set individual goals each week and work to accomplish their goals throughout the following week. Participants are asked to share their goals and progress with the group.
The workshops are led by two leaders who have received special training. The leaders are volunteers, many living with chronic pain themselves.

The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program is a licensed, evidence-based program, and was developed and researched by Memorial University in Canada in conjunction with Stanford University. Since 2018 the Self-Management Resource Center (SMRC) remains dedicated to helping improve health status and self-management skills. It follows a standardized format that has proven to help people learn how to better manage the symptoms of chronic pain. It is considered a “Best Practice” program in self-management.