Pain Navigation Services

What to Expect with Pain Navigation Services

The pain navigation service at IU Health includes:

1. Medical evaluation: Patients will meet with a medical provider to review their history, past workup, treatments, and complete a physical exam. Pain navigation providers strive to provide patients with care that goes beyond medication management.
2. Physical therapy: Patients will be evaluated by a physical therapist to help guide them in their wellness journey. Physical therapists assess physical strength, stamina and flexibility to help patients maximize their treatment and recovery.
3. Pain psychology: Patients meet with a psychologist specializing in chronic pain to discuss the impact of pain on other domains of their lives and to introduce research-based interventions for chronic pain. Our psychology team is an essential component of treatment. Our psychologists help patients better understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviors impact life with chronic pain.

After Your Assessment

Chronic Pain Treatment Planning

After the pain navigation assessments, our providers meet as a team to discuss each patient. They work together to identify priorities for care and come up with a comprehensive treatment plan. The plan may include some of the services below.

• Pain rehabilitation program: This is a 3-week intensive outpatient program for chronic pain. Patients must complete the full pain navigation assessment before being referred to the program. This program encompasses all aspects of the individual services and includes some additional therapies such as yoga and massage.
• Pain psychology services: Multiple options to engage including a 2-hour empowered relief class, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) done individually or in a group setting, hypnosis for pain, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), and biofeedback.
• Physical therapy: We coordinate closely with physical therapists at IU Health to work towards functional goals. Specialty care is available for patients with hypermobility, pelvic pain, dysautonomia, and spine issues.
• Medication optimization clinic: Work closely with a physician and pharmacist to wean off opioid medications. Our providers work to accomplish this gradually and with compassion.
• Social work: Get help navigating resources to alleviate life stressors caused by chronic pain. Our social workers meet with patients at their initial evaluation and follow up outside of clinic appointments on an as needed basis.
• Tobacco cessation counseling: Work with a social worker to help guide and coordinate the process of quitting.
• Specialty referrals: Providers with psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and neurology work closely with us to assist patients with specific needs.