|
William S. Middleton Veteran's Memorial Hospital
Hello fellow Veteran's! I just wanted to share the "PainPal" peer support group by the American Chronic Pain Association is coming back to Madison Wisconsin on Wednesdays!
If you are not familiar with the American Chronic Pain Association, we give help and hope for people and their families living with chronic pain. Since 1980, the ACPA's mission has been:
To facilitate peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain; and
To raise awareness amoung the health care community, policy makers, and the public at large about the issues of living with chronic pain.
To find out more about the ACPA, sign up for a newsletter, join, get more information about pain, pain legislation, to volunteer to facilitate a support group, or donate: http://www.theacpa.org
 In the past the Veteran's have met for peer support at the Madison VA hospital. This is the desired forum, since there are so many resources at hand. Howerver, if someone feels uncomfortable meeting at the VA, (although these meetings are strictly confidential and no notes of any kind are entered in any VA Database) there are other groups in the area to meet with as well. As I said, the VA is the desired forum for Veteran's also, because we are supporting fellow Veteran's as group members. In the outside groups, we support everyone. It is your choice.
In any case, just sign up on this website and I will personally contact you to see which group is best for you.
The meetings'Agenda is as follows:
Ice Breaker (Learn why others are here and introduce yourself)
Followed by a
Breathing Excersize (Guided imagery, relaxation and physical stretching)
There will be a
Group Discussion (Plan a main topic each week and provice information about the current week's topic)
We will follow up with
Follow Up and Home Excersizes (planning for the next week's topic and what you may have to contribute)
We will also
Share (Movies, articles, books, photo's and current events)
We do not dwell on prolonged pain talk, and we keep everything open and optimistic. We want you to have fun and enjoy the meetings
Above all;
Learn to Love the Ride!
Main Topics for discussion can be;
First Steps from Patient to Person/Managing Pain One Step at a Time
Organizing your support/health care team, care plan, and prescriptions
Rate your Pain-Monitor Flare Up's-Pain Scales and Pain Diaries
Setting Goals and Priorities
Communication and re-socializaton skills Basic Rights, Assertiveness, Managing Emotions,
Familys and Relationships (How Chronic Pain Affects Our Lives)
Sex
Non-Medication Pain Releif (Relaxation and Excersize)
There are also specialists who are willing to come in and speak to our groups on specific subjects and answer questions. We have fun activities and not every meeting is the same!
You will really want to come and join us if you are feeling shut in and would like to socialize with others who have the same difficulties in life as you are experiencing.
Meetings are run by a trained facilitator, other than that training, this person is a person with pain just like you. The facilitator can be there to find their own answers as well.
Each member has responsibility for the group.
You do not have to be a member of the American Chronic Pain Association, although membership is preferred to get the most out of the sessions.
Thank You for reading this and I hope this sheds some light on who we are and what we do. Yes, although this is an American Chronic Pain Association meeting, our chapter in the Madison area is named "PainPal"
You can find more information on groups when you register on this website or at: www.painpal.org These websites are proprietary only to the "PainPal" chapter in the Madison area and are not associated with the American Chronic Pain Association. (They have their own website and it is FANTASTIC! www.theacpa.org) Our websites are for group members to refresh themselves on topics of meetings, meeting time, date and place, forum discussions on the group, and other social programs for PainPal groups.
|
