Active Aging: Six-week Chronic Pain Management Workshop begins in September

by Christine Histed

Many common chronic pain conditions impact daily, for example, arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, and so on. Living with a chronic pain condition can affect many aspects of life, including our ability or desire to participate in social functions. Chronic pain can negatively impact relationships, cause frustration, and promote feelings of isolation.

Managing chronic pain means more than taking medication; it involves monitoring pain triggers, pacing activities, eating healthy, staying physically active, managing emotions, communicating what we need to others, and much more. All of these are topics that will be discussed in the Chronic Pain PATH Workshop, which is being held, conveniently, at the Stockbridge Area Senior Center. Note: “PATH” stands for “Personal Action Toward Health.”

In this workshop, we won’t focus on the pain condition itself; rather, we will focus on what we can do to manage our pain and take control of our lives.

The workshop will be held every Tuesday for six weeks, beginning September 24 and finishing on October 29. Sessions will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of pain condition. Each session will build on the previous session, so it is best if participants try to attend all, or most, sessions. (No new registrations will be accepted after the second week.)

This workshop is being offered in partnership with Tri-County Office on Aging, MSU Extension and Stockbridge Area Senior Center. Although it is free of charge, donations will be accepted.

To register, call Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465 or register at the Stockbridge Area Senior Center. The Stockbridge Area Senior Center address is shown below.

The six-week “Chronic Pain PATH Workshop” focuses on what we can do to manage our pain and take control of our lives. Image credits: commons.wikimedia.org: RobyStarm07 (left) and InjuryMap (center and right)

Christine Histed is the Evidence Based Program Manager at Tri-County Office on Aging, a great resource for older adults in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties. Visit tcoa.org or call 517-887-1440 for more information. This Active Aging column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Senior Center, a great place to visit. Address: 219 W. Elm St., Stockbridge. SASC website: stockbridgeareaseniors.org. SASC phone: 517-480-0353.