Pain Rehabilitation Program

We Are Closing

On May 12, 2023, the MUSC Health Pain Rehabilitation Program will close its doors. We will accept referrals until May 1, 2023. Thank you for the trust and confidence you have given us all these years. If you have any appointments on or after May 12 or have any questions, please call 843-792-6895.

Congratulations to the MUSC Health Pain Rehabilitation Program! 

The team received the Innovative Models for Integrated Care Award from The Association of Medicine and Psychiatry (AMP), 2019. AMP launched this award in 2016 after recognizing the unmet need to disseminate innovative and successful models of integrated care. Programs that win this award are evaluated on clinical importance, effectiveness, innovation, and generalizability.

Winter 2021 recipient of MUSC, College of Medicine Research Excellence Award for their work and article title “Pain Rehabilitation’s Dual Power: Treatment for Chronic Pain and Prevention of Opioid-Related Risks” published by American Psychologist in 2020, Vol. 75, No. 6.

South Carolina’s only comprehensive chronic pain rehabilitation program

• Restore function and quality of life for people with chronic pain
• Program suited for people whose chronic pain is negatively affecting their mood, overall health and who are experiencing a decline in quality-of-life
• The MUSC Health Pain Rehabilitation Program is a tested, evidence-based model

The Pain Rehabilitation program is a three-week program that runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Admission Criteria

A person may be considered a candidate for admission if he or she has:

• Pain of more than three months duration affecting functioning. If pain duration is less than three months, there must be a clinical indication that the pain will likely develop into a chronic condition.
• Medical clearance to participate in daily aerobic exercise regimen.
• No pending medical work-ups for a pain-related condition. The person is no longer seeking medical cure for pain.
• Psychiatric stability. That means the person has no psychosis, no recent (past six months) suicidal or self-injurious or aggressive behavior, no recent (past three months) psychiatric hospitalization, unless evaluated and approved by PRC consultant staff.
• Willingness to taper opioid medications and other controlled substances, and to participate in all program activities.

Applicants must be able to perform activities of daily living (toileting, dressing, and bathing) and the ability to walk or transfer from a wheelchair. They also need to have adequate concentration and memory function to learn and apply new information. Full-day participation is required.

People who are accepted into the three-week Pain Rehabilitation Center program will need a medical clearance for exercise form completed by their medical providers prior to beginning the program.

Exclusionary Criteria

A person may not be considered a candidate for admission if he or she has:

• Been unwilling to discontinue use of pain medications and other targeted medications affecting cognition or substances that would prevent meaningful participation in the program
• An intrathecal opioid delivery system in place
• Shown insufficient motivation to participate in medication management, physical and occupational therapy, or group therapy
• An acute physical condition or illness that would prevent his or her adequate participation in the program
• Demonstrated disruptive behavior that prevents that person or other participants from fully benefiting from treatment

Additional Program Services

Resilience and Reconditioning (R&R) Program

Patients in this program attend multimodal treatment with PT, OT and Health Psychology once per week for 6 weeks. Medication management is not offered in this program.

Acceptance and Commitment Virtual Therapy Group

Patients in this program learn pain coping skills through virtual group therapy.

Skills Group

Monthly skills group is offered for patients who have completed any of the programs offered in Pain Rehabilitation or patients considering entry into one of the programs. Meetings are held both in-person and virtually.

Referral process

Physician or self-referral is required. The person's primary care provider or referring provider will be responsible for arranging other health care services if need arises. Referring health care professionals can contact the Pain Rehabilitation Program at 843-792-6895.

Referring physicians will need to provide the following information:

• Current general medical examination documentation
• Current list of medications
• Medical records pertinent to chronic pain condition

Admission to the Pain Rehabilitation Program begins with an evaluation, during which staff will assess whether a rehabilitation approach is appropriate for the person with chronic pain and determine which program best meets the needs of the patient.

If the pain rehabilitation approach is appropriate, a tentative admission date is scheduled, a representative from Patient Account Services will contact the person's insurance carrier, as many health insurance plans require approval prior to admission.

Request an Appointment

People with chronic pain generally have extensive medical histories. A referral from a health care professional is required. Health care professionals may include a primary doctor, a pain specialist, a doctor trained in mental health conditions (psychiatrist or psychologist), a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner.

The referral provides the Pain Rehabilitation Center staff with the necessary background to determine if the rehabilitation approach may be beneficial for the individual.

For information or to enroll in the program, call 843-792-6895.