ryanbytes
12-29-2007, 01:57 PM
FYI RIC is the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
This is hard for me to write since I know this program is the last hope for many people. I feel that others should know what they might be dealing with. Message me if you want more info. I was in the four week program and my group started with ten or eleven people with various pain issues. My problem was related to a laminectomy. I'm going to probably use session and classes interchangeably since sometimes we would just refer to anything in the schedule as a class. It really did feel like school.
According to the information I received during the orientation the program is thirty years old and the best in the country. They have a sixty percent success rate which doesn't seem all that high to me and took the wind out of the sails for everyone in my group. There are a combination of one-on-one and group sessions in occupational and physical therapy, psychological issues, relaxation techniques, and general gym periods with a pool period at least once a week. There were regular doctor visits mixed in as well. The gym and pool sessions took place in the gym located next to the RIC offices. They say the pain program is more like a job and it really is. You work from 8 to 4 or 430 every weekday. You have to ask for days off and have them approved by a doctor. They prefer that you change or cancel anything that will take time away from the program.
For a program with such high standing the scheduling left a lot to be desired. For the two weeks I was there schedules changed from day to day and even hour to hour. Sometimes this left us with no lunch breaks or huge holes in the schedule with little to do.
Physical and occupational therapy sessions and by extension the gym and pool were usually ok. I felt like I was actually doing something to improve myself and that was really cool.
The psychotherapy sessions were what they were. Talking to the therapist who checked off boxes on the form. Maybe an extra question or two.
Relaxation sessions were fun or dreaded. The group sessions were fun. Sometimes it was the only chance everyone got to see each other during the day. One-on-one were annoying and even frustrating. The relaxation techniques are portrayed as a way to provide quick pain relief in just about any situation. We were even given a log to fill out for home practice. Our logs would be examined and if there was no pain or tension relief shown we would be pressed on what we really did if anything. We came to dread the sessions.
The gym and pool periods were the best. We could push ourselves and have fun doing it. I think these times were where my fellow group members and I had the most fun. We worked out together and talked about what was going on with our treatment regimen.
Group sessions in the conference room were usually mind numbing. They also showed how rigid the program is. Questions not having an easy answer were glossed over which made us question the program.
Doctor appointments...were doctor appointments. We would get checked out and our meds would be adjusted or left alone.
And now the really bad part. At the start of week three I found out that most of the group was dismissed due to lack of progress. Apparently they give up on people after two weeks. My fellow group members found out on Christmas Eve no less. I was one of the people booted. I just didn't answer the phone so I found out when I returned on the Thursday after Christmas. I requested and had the days off approved. It turns out that I had too many off, a total of four if I remember right, so I was dropped. And there is the reason for the relatively high success rate. They weed out anyone that might drag the percentage down. This made me very angry. A place that's supposed to be so caring and compassionate and understanding just gave up on these people. I couldn't believe they let them go when they did. At least wait until after the holiday!
After that I quit the program. I didn't want to be there anymore. To me they care about themselves more than the patients. I saw my doctor there to air my grievances and make sure that I could still be her patient and then I left.
If you're in pain it might be worth it to take your chances with the program. I'm sure people get something out of it. I can now fall asleep faster with some relaxation techniques. I wish I could have gotten more.
Feel free to contact me.
This is hard for me to write since I know this program is the last hope for many people. I feel that others should know what they might be dealing with. Message me if you want more info. I was in the four week program and my group started with ten or eleven people with various pain issues. My problem was related to a laminectomy. I'm going to probably use session and classes interchangeably since sometimes we would just refer to anything in the schedule as a class. It really did feel like school.
According to the information I received during the orientation the program is thirty years old and the best in the country. They have a sixty percent success rate which doesn't seem all that high to me and took the wind out of the sails for everyone in my group. There are a combination of one-on-one and group sessions in occupational and physical therapy, psychological issues, relaxation techniques, and general gym periods with a pool period at least once a week. There were regular doctor visits mixed in as well. The gym and pool sessions took place in the gym located next to the RIC offices. They say the pain program is more like a job and it really is. You work from 8 to 4 or 430 every weekday. You have to ask for days off and have them approved by a doctor. They prefer that you change or cancel anything that will take time away from the program.
For a program with such high standing the scheduling left a lot to be desired. For the two weeks I was there schedules changed from day to day and even hour to hour. Sometimes this left us with no lunch breaks or huge holes in the schedule with little to do.
Physical and occupational therapy sessions and by extension the gym and pool were usually ok. I felt like I was actually doing something to improve myself and that was really cool.
The psychotherapy sessions were what they were. Talking to the therapist who checked off boxes on the form. Maybe an extra question or two.
Relaxation sessions were fun or dreaded. The group sessions were fun. Sometimes it was the only chance everyone got to see each other during the day. One-on-one were annoying and even frustrating. The relaxation techniques are portrayed as a way to provide quick pain relief in just about any situation. We were even given a log to fill out for home practice. Our logs would be examined and if there was no pain or tension relief shown we would be pressed on what we really did if anything. We came to dread the sessions.
The gym and pool periods were the best. We could push ourselves and have fun doing it. I think these times were where my fellow group members and I had the most fun. We worked out together and talked about what was going on with our treatment regimen.
Group sessions in the conference room were usually mind numbing. They also showed how rigid the program is. Questions not having an easy answer were glossed over which made us question the program.
Doctor appointments...were doctor appointments. We would get checked out and our meds would be adjusted or left alone.
And now the really bad part. At the start of week three I found out that most of the group was dismissed due to lack of progress. Apparently they give up on people after two weeks. My fellow group members found out on Christmas Eve no less. I was one of the people booted. I just didn't answer the phone so I found out when I returned on the Thursday after Christmas. I requested and had the days off approved. It turns out that I had too many off, a total of four if I remember right, so I was dropped. And there is the reason for the relatively high success rate. They weed out anyone that might drag the percentage down. This made me very angry. A place that's supposed to be so caring and compassionate and understanding just gave up on these people. I couldn't believe they let them go when they did. At least wait until after the holiday!
After that I quit the program. I didn't want to be there anymore. To me they care about themselves more than the patients. I saw my doctor there to air my grievances and make sure that I could still be her patient and then I left.
If you're in pain it might be worth it to take your chances with the program. I'm sure people get something out of it. I can now fall asleep faster with some relaxation techniques. I wish I could have gotten more.
Feel free to contact me.