Understanding Chronic Pain and How to Manage It
According to the CDC, 21% of adults in the United States, or nearly 51.6 million people, live with a chronic pain condition. This can impact your ability to work, attend school, participate in social outings and enjoy hobbies. Losing engagement in these activities can harm your mental health and worsen pain.
The Complex Nature of Pain
Pain is a multi-faceted experience influenced by biological, psychological and social factors. Managing persistent pain requires a personalized care plan. Your care team might include a primary care physician, physical or occupational therapist, massage therapist, psychotherapist, or other specialty provider. The treatment plan often involves multiple approaches such as medications, exercises, education, braces, assistive devices and rest.
Your Role in Managing Pain
You play a crucial role in your care plan. Understanding pain triggers and developing coping strategies can help you control your chronic pain. COMPASS is a group class at GHC for individuals struggling with daily tasks due to ongoing pain. This class covers topics that can improve your control over your pain and reduce its impact on your life. Each class focuses on a different topic:
Orientation to Neuroscience: Understand how the body and brain respond to stress and its impact on pain perception.
Modifiable Factors: Identify which physical aspects are in your control and how they can improve your pain experience.
Pain Re-framing: Define pain and its protective role in our lives.
Advocating: Empower yourself to know that you are in control, and your healthcare team should be your partners.
Social Support: Develop your support system for managing chronic pain symptoms.
Join Our COMPASS Class
Our classes are taught by Physical and Occupational Therapists and meet weekly for five sessions. Each session lasts 90 minutes and includes education, group activities, and discussion time. This class is designed for adults (18 years and older) and is limited to 12 participants. Learn more about this class and sign up by clicking here.
July is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, with the goal of raising awareness and providing support to those who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. At GHC-SCW, we understand the profound impact these losses have on individuals and families. We commit to offering resources and support to help navigate this difficult journey.
Understanding Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Pregnancy and infant loss are more common than many realize. It’s also important to understand the terms associated with these losses as well. A miscarriage, or an early pregnancy loss, is when a pregnancy loss occurs before the 20th week of pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes, about 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. The number may actually be higher, as some pregnant people may not realize they are pregnant when they are experiencing a miscarriage. A stillbirth is when the pregnancy loss occurs in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. In the United States, stillbirth affects about 1 in 160 pregnancies.
Despite these numbers, many misconceptions surround pregnancy loss. One of the most harmful is the belief that it is often the pregnant person’s fault. It is crucial to understand that pregnancy loss rarely happens because of anything the pregnant person did or didn’t do. Some miscarriages may be caused by problems with chromosomes. Regardless of the cause, the emotional toll of these losses is immense. Feelings of guilt, grief and isolation are common. It is important to note that most people who have a miscarriage or a stillbirth and get pregnant again have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Behavioral Health Resources at GHC-SCW
GHC-SCW offers a range of behavioral health resources to support those affected by pregnancy and infant loss. Our counseling services provide a safe space for individuals and families to express their grief and begin the healing process. Our therapists handle the unique challenges that come with such a loss. They offer compassionate and professional care.
Our behavioral health staff may also be able to connect you to local support groups. These are safe spaces where grieving parents and families connect with others who have experienced similar losses. These groups provide a sense of community and understanding., and participants may feel less isolated in their grief. Our goal is to ensure that no one faces this journey alone. If you have questions, please call (608) 441-3290.
Community Support
GHC-SCW deeply commits to supporting our local community. We partner with organizations focused on pregnancy and infant loss. One such organization is Mikayla’s Grace. Mikayla’s Grace was started in March of 2011 by Mike and Melissa Terrill after the loss of their babies, Mikayla Grace and Chase Gabriel. This organization is their way of giving back to the community, and keeping their babies’ spirits and memory alive while helping other families. Mikayla’s Grace provides comfort and support to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and those who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. They offer angel memory boxes, baby loss comfort packages and other resources to help families through their grief. We proudly support Mikayla’s Grace and their mission.
Visit the Mikayla’s Grace website.
How to Seek Help and Get Involved
If you or someone you know is affected by pregnancy or infant loss, reach out for support. Accessing GHC-SCW’s behavioral health resources is straightforward. Contact our Behavioral Health services to schedule an appointment or learn more about available support groups.
Supporting Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is also a meaningful way to get involved. Consider participating in local events, donating to organizations like Mikayla’s Grace, or volunteering your time to help those in need. Every effort helps raise awareness and provides much-needed support to grieving families.
At GHC, we offer management of confirmed miscarriage at less than 13 weeks of gestation via expectant and medication management. We also offer support, resources and understanding during this difficult time. Remember, pregnancy loss is not the pregnant person’s fault. No one should navigate this journey alone. Reach out, seek support and know that help is available.
Additional Information and Resources
March of Dimes – Miscarriage, Loss, and Grief
UW Health Hope After Loss Clinic
UW Health Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic
Do you know what the pelvic floor is and what it does for your body? Understanding this important part of your body is the first step in helping you maintain its wellness and overall health.
What is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, fascia and ligaments that support your pelvic organs, such as the bladder, intestines, rectum, prostate and uterus. The largest group of muscles in the pelvic floor is the Levator Ani. The Levator Ani and the surrounding muscles act like a hammock to support your pelvic organs. They also lift upwards to help control urine flow or bowel movements and adjust tension to support our body as we move.
Pelvic Floor Issues and Care
Unfortunately, these muscles and surrounding tissues can change due to menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, cancer treatment, aging, obesity, chronic constipation and more. The key to pelvic floor wellness lies in awareness and proactive treatment, especially if you are having difficulty controlling urine and/or bowel movements or if you are experiencing pelvic pain. If you have these symptoms, you can schedule an appointment with your Primary Care Provider to address these concerns. During your visit, your provider may give you simple tips to care for the condition on your own. They may also suggest trying a medication and/or refer you to a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health.
If you are referred to a physical therapist, they can work with you to address these issues. They can give you lifestyle suggestions, create a series of special exercises tailored to fit your needs and provide individualized in-clinic care to decrease your symptoms and get you back to doing what you love.
We’re thrilled to announce the Physical Therapy Team is releasing a series of blogs featuring information and wellness tips to support your pelvic floor and overall health. Stay tuned for more exciting content on this topic!