Therapeutic Pain Specialist Program
As a physical therapist, Hillary Joseph, MPT, COMT, TPS is constantly walking the line between good and bad pain with her patients. She works to build trust, be truthful and give expert knowledge regarding pain. It takes hard work, dedication and commitment to work toward achieving a positive outcome of overcoming chronic pain. With Hillary’s experience in hands-on, manual therapy treatment, she is excited to announce the completion of the Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS) Certification in June 2022.
What is PNE?
A newer field that has gained popularity in the last 15 years is called Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE). PNE is the educational process of describing pain and pain processing in a way that is anatomically and scientifically correct, but can also be understood by a non-medical professional. PNE aims to:
- Describe how the nervous system has the ability to modulate the pain experience by increasing or decreasing its sensitivity
- Redefine pain as different from tissue injury
- Understand why your pain won’t harm you and that your nervous system now uses pain to protect at all costs, not to inform you about damage
- Help alleviate a person’s fear of pain, so that they are able to resume their normal, daily, functional activities despite the pain (not necessarily pain-free)
Studies using PNE have been shown to decrease fear and positively change a patient’s perception of their pain, as well as have an immediate effect on improvements in patients’ attitudes about pain. Here are some specific examples of PNE+ “exercises”.
- Graded Motor Imagery consisting of 3 unique stages: left and right discrimination, explicit motor imagery, and mirror therapy
- Purposefully seek out activities that produce danger-reducing chemicals
- Be patient and persistent, using smart activities to gradually increase your activities and involvement in life
- Remember that the right amount and kind of exercise is helpful, not harmful
Who benefits from PNE?
Patients with:
- Chronic, persistent pain
- Acute pain
- Pre and Post Surgical Rehabilitation
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- High level of fear
How much does the TPS program cost?
It is an initial 8 week program for physical therapy once per week for 1-hour. This is a cash pay service and is $150.00 for each hour long appointment. Our office will not bill your insurance, with the exception of Medicare patients.
Contact Our Clinic For Treatment Today!
Contact Blue Sky Physical Therapy today to schedule with Hillary Joseph, MPT, COMT, TPS!
