Chronic Pain and Addiction The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital in Peoria, Illinois and BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, Illinois have been providing a special service to their respective communities. This is a treatment program that identifies, evaluates and treats chemical and process addictions and chronic pain. Addiction and chronic pain are treated separately but simultaneously by utilizing a chronic pain treatment team, consisting of: an ASAM certified addictionologist, an anesthesiologist (board certified in pain), a clinical psychologist and licensed or certified counselors in consultation with a psychiatrist, a physiatrist, a neurologist, and a physical therapist.
This program has treated addicts with pain from: back injuries, arthritis, post-laminectory syndrome, cancer pain, shingles, headaches, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathies, pelvic and neck injuries, or surgeries.
Everyone admitted to the IIAR for addiction treatment is also assessed for issues with pain. If a person reports having had pain for more than six months, the individual is evaluated by the chronic pain team to develop treatment plans to address the chronic pain. The IIAR will also assist recovering chemical addicts who have developed chronic pain related to illness or injury, by developing a treatment plan to assist them in coping with the chronic pain while maintaining their recovery and improving their quality of life.
The IIAR Chronic Pain Team specializes in assessing and evaluating those people with chronic pain who have been unable to use pain medications as prescribed. These persons are admitted to the IIAR inpatient program for a seven-to-ten-day evaluation. During the evaluation, it is determined if the person meets the DSM IV-TR diagnostic criteria for chemical dependence or abuse, combined with chronic pain, or if the person is a chemical addict with drug-seeking behavior. If the person is diagnosed with chemical dependency or abuse, he or she is treated for it at the same time he or she is being treated for chronic pain.
The IIAR has also had many persons who were not chemically addicted but had chronic pain that was being undertreated. In these cases, the Chronic Pain Team would evaluate the treatment approaches being used and develop new treatment recommendations for the person. This person would then be referred back to their primary care physician for follow-up care.
The primary goals of this program are:
- Evaluate for chemical dependency or abuse
- Obtain a thorough evaluation to determine etiology of pain
- Increase control of pain and decrease stress and disability associated with pain
- Educate patient on theraputic exercises that will increase the ability to improve daily functioning and may decrease the need for pain medication
- Teach patient and concerned others coping mechanisms to address problems associated with chronic pain
- Address psychological issues related to chronic pain such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression
- Reduce dependence on mood-altering drugs
To comment on this site or inquire about IIAR programs and services, or to receive additional information on any of the subjects discussed in this Web site, please e-mail our Vice President of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Rick Zehr (eric.zehr@proctor.org) or call 1-800-522-3784.
This information is provided as a community education service about professional issues and is not a substitute for individual consultation. Advice on individual problems should be obtained through a professional. All personal and medical information provided to IIAR and its staff is held in strict confidence. This information will not be disclosed to any person or organization without the written consent of the patient or guardian.
About I.I.A.R. Addiction Information
Speakers Bureau The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery has centers at the following three locations:
Proctor Hospital, 5409 N. Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614, phone: 1-800-522-3784
BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Virginia at Franklin, Normal, IL 61761, phone: 309-888-0993
IIAR at Springfield, 3050 Montvale Drive, Springfield, IL 62704, phone: 217-726-6611E-mail comments or requests for additional information to Rick Zehr (eric.zehr@proctor.org)
You may also contact: Randee McGraw, Administrative Director
Pam Hillyard, Manager
Coleen Moore, Coordinator of Resource Development
Patricia Erickson, Nursing Coordinator
©2005 Proctor Hospital
