Dear colleague,
I know a “club” in Jeffersonville that would welcome Groucho with open arms. It’s a new chronic pain support group meeting on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
This is needed. The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain has been declared the best practice. And the guideline’s very first recommendation is:
Nonpharmacologic therapy and nonopioid pharmacologic therapy are preferred for chronic pain.
The CDC Guideline further recommends: …there are free or low-cost patient support, self-help, and educational community-based programs that can provide stress reduction and other mental health benefits.
In fact, support groups, like the new one in Jeffersonville, are one of the most overlooked ways of treating pain, which is unfortunate considering the multitude of benefits a person can receive from such groups. Chronic pain can be a lonely experience. Even patients with strong personal social networks often feel isolated and unsupported. Evidence has shown that a pain support group can augment pain relief measures while encouraging improved function.
Thus, I am spreading the word about the new chronic pain support group in Jeffersonville:
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, EDUCATION WING
321 E. Market St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
@ the corner of Walnut & Market Streets
The next meeting will be: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, FROM 4:00 to 5:30 PM
I attended a meeting and found the group to be welcoming and casual. The moderator, Marylee, is a great facilitator of supportive group interaction. The group is relatively new and would like to grow. It’s is a grass roots effort with structure, but still flexible. The location is convenient. There is no charge to attend. All are welcome. Informative flyers are attached to this email.
So, if you have a patient or just know someone who might benefit from some “nonpharmacologic” and “nonopioid” therapy for their chronic pain, well now you have a CDC recommended option that will never need an insurance prior-authorization. It just needs you and me to pass it on.
God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family,that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion. – Desmond Tutu
All the best,
James Patrick Murphy, MD
Medical Director and CEO, Murphy Pain Center
720 Rolling Creek Drive, Suite 101
New Albany, Indiana 47210
Main Office: (502) 736-3636
Appointments: (502) 736-2902
Toll Free Fax: (877) 497-8259
Website: http://www.murphypaincenter.com/louisville
SEAK Directory listing: https://goo.gl/gdEkNr
REFERENCES:
The Development and Impact of a Chronic Pain Support Group. J of Pain and Symptom Mgmt., 1999, Vol 7, Issue 5 http://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(99)00012-3/fulltext?showall=true%3D
Mayo Clinic Website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-20044655
CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm
Flyers, courtesy of Marylee James, a.k.a. https://maryleejames.com
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Confluential Truth 
Happy to share this information. Hope to make it some time.
Kim Miller
I DID make it to a meeting and I will most definitely return! The facilitator, Marylee James, is an absolutely wonderful person. She sets the tone for the meeting, which is laid back and casual.
I felt like I was in a room with friends I had known for years instead of people I was meeting for the first time. This particular meeting included Dr. James P. Murphy, Pain Specialist, as well as Addiction Specialist. Dr. Murphy was engaging and did his best to answer everyone’s questions, despite running well past the time scheduled. He spoke TO us, not AT us. It was informal and a rare treat to be allowed to speak frankly and openly to a doctor. Thanks, Dr. Murphy!
This new group is a great outlet for Chronic Pain Patients who would like to share their experiences, listen to others who have similar issues, and not feel like you’re an oddity who nobody understands.
Thank you, Marylee. We’ve needed this for awhile.
Kim Miller