Wellness Program
Chronic Pain Management
Find relief from chronic pain through our comprehensive program combining medical expertise, psychological approaches, and holistic therapies—reducing suffering while avoiding or tapering opioid dependency.
Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain—pain lasting more than three months—affects every dimension of life. It disrupts sleep, impairs concentration, strains relationships, and erodes quality of life. Many people with chronic pain also develop depression, anxiety, or substance dependence as they struggle to cope.
Traditional medical approaches often rely heavily on opioid medications, which can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction without adequately addressing the underlying pain. There's a better way—comprehensive pain management that addresses the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of pain.
At Eden Vale, our chronic pain program offers an alternative to the medication treadmill. We combine medical assessment and appropriate treatment with evidence-based psychological approaches and holistic therapies, helping you reduce suffering and reclaim your life.
Our Treatment Approach
Evidence-based therapies combined with luxury amenities for comprehensive healing
Comprehensive Assessment
Thorough medical and psychological evaluation to understand all factors contributing to your pain experience.
Pain Psychology
Evidence-based psychological approaches including CBT for chronic pain, ACT, and mindfulness-based pain management.
Medication Optimization
Reviewing current medications, tapering opioids if appropriate, and optimizing non-addictive pain treatments.
Movement & Physical Therapy
Graded exercise, physical therapy, and movement practices to reduce pain and improve function.
Holistic Approaches
Acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy, yoga, and other complementary therapies supporting pain relief.
Nervous System Regulation
Techniques to calm an overactivated pain system, including breathwork, biofeedback, and relaxation training.
The Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
Modern pain science understands that pain is not simply a direct readout of tissue damage. Pain is created by the brain, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors: Biological: Tissue damage, inflammation, nerve sensitization, genetics, sleep, nutrition, and overall health all influence pain. Psychological: Thoughts about pain (catastrophizing, fear-avoidance), emotions (anxiety, depression), attention, and past experiences shape how intensely pain is felt. Social: Relationships, work stress, financial concerns, cultural beliefs about pain, and social support all affect pain experience. This explains why two people with identical injuries can have vastly different pain experiences, and why someone's pain can vary dramatically based on their emotional state or circumstances. Our program addresses all three dimensions. We don't just treat your body—we treat you as a whole person, understanding that sustainable pain relief requires comprehensive intervention.
Central Sensitization: When Pain Goes Rogue
In many chronic pain conditions, the nervous system itself becomes part of the problem: Normal pain: You stub your toe, pain signals travel to the brain, you feel pain, the toe heals, pain resolves. Central sensitization: The pain system becomes hypersensitive. Signals are amplified. Things that shouldn't hurt do (allodynia). Pain persists long after any tissue damage has healed. This isn't imaginary pain—it's very real, caused by changes in the nervous system. Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, and persistent post-surgical pain often involve central sensitization. The good news: the nervous system is plastic. Just as it learned to become sensitized, it can learn to become less sensitive. This requires approaches that address the nervous system directly—not just the tissues where pain is felt. Our program includes techniques specifically targeting central sensitization: pain neuroscience education, graded exposure, nervous system calming practices, and psychological approaches that change how the brain processes pain signals.
Pain Psychology: Changing Your Relationship with Pain
Psychological approaches don't suggest pain is "in your head"—they recognize that the brain creates all pain experiences and can be influenced: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain: Identifies and changes thoughts and behaviors that amplify pain. Catastrophizing ("This pain means something terrible"), fear-avoidance (avoiding movement that might hurt), and other patterns maintain and intensify pain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Rather than fighting pain, learning to accept its presence while engaging in valued activities. Struggling against chronic pain often increases suffering. Mindfulness-Based Pain Management: Training attention to observe pain without reactivity, reducing the emotional suffering layered on top of physical sensation. Pain Neuroscience Education: Understanding how pain works reduces fear and changes pain processing. When you understand that hurt doesn't always mean harm, you can move more freely. These approaches have strong research support for reducing pain intensity, improving function, and enhancing quality of life—often more effectively than medications alone.
Opioids and Chronic Pain: A Better Path
Many chronic pain patients are trapped on opioids: Diminishing returns: Tolerance develops, requiring higher doses for the same effect. Eventually, opioids may barely help but stopping causes withdrawal. Hyperalgesia: Paradoxically, chronic opioid use can increase pain sensitivity. The drugs meant to reduce pain may be making it worse. Side effects: Constipation, cognitive impairment, hormonal effects, and overdose risk accompany long-term use. Addiction: Some develop true addiction, using more than prescribed, obtaining extra supplies, continuing despite problems. Our program can help you reduce or eliminate opioids while managing pain through other means. Medical supervision ensures safe tapering. Alternative approaches fill the gap. Many clients find their pain actually improves as opioids are reduced. If you're taking opioids appropriately and want to continue, we respect that choice. If you want off the opioid treadmill, we can help.
Why Choose Eden Vale
Experience the difference of truly personalized, luxury treatment
Comprehensive pain assessment
Pain psychology specialists
Safe opioid tapering if desired
Physical therapy and movement
Holistic therapies (massage, acupuncture)
Maximum 6 clients for personalized care
Beautiful environment supporting healing
Non-addictive treatment approaches
Long-term pain management planning
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really help chronic pain without opioids?
Yes. Research shows comprehensive pain programs often produce better outcomes than medications alone. Many clients significantly reduce pain and improve function through psychological approaches, movement, and holistic therapies—often while tapering off opioids.
Is my pain 'real' if psychological factors are involved?
Absolutely. All pain is created by the brain and influenced by psychological factors—this doesn't make it less real or less deserving of treatment. Understanding the psychology of pain gives us more tools to help you, not fewer.
What if I have a diagnosed condition causing my pain?
Even with clear physical diagnoses, psychological and lifestyle factors influence pain intensity. Our approach complements medical treatment for your condition. We work with your existing medical team and don't ask you to abandon appropriate care.
I've tried everything. Why would this be different?
Most pain treatment is fragmented—a medication here, some physical therapy there. Our intensive, integrated program addresses all dimensions simultaneously. The residential setting allows full focus on pain management without daily life stressors.
How long does the pain program last?
Typically 4-6 weeks, though duration depends on your specific situation, including whether opioid tapering is involved. Significant improvement often occurs within this timeframe, with continued progress after discharge.
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