If you are constantly in pain, you don't have to go it alone.
Help is coming. The University of Missouri Extension is partnering with the Central Missouri Regional Arthritis Center to offer a free chronic disease self-management program in Fulton, beginning May 17.
"The class really is for anybody with a chronic medical issue; it covers a wide variety of issues," said Lynda Zimmerman, MU Extension county engagement specialist in nutrition and health education.
The free six-week program series, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, will be at Callaway County MU Extension, 5803 County Road 302 in Fulton. It will be 9:30 a.m.-noon on Fridays: May 17, 24, 31, and June 7, 14, 21.
The weekly sessions are for individuals who have a chronic condition, and their family and caregivers. Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, depression, diabetes or pre-diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, lupus and osteoporosis, among others. Participants learn strategies to better manage their chronic conditions, improve their quality of life and lower health care costs.
Zimmerman and Robin Gammon, also a county engagement specialist, share practical information including eating well and exercise, relaxation and handling difficult emotions, managing medications and symptoms, communicating with health care professionals, problem-solving to address barriers and setting realistic goals.
"We'll talk about what are the strategies people need for pain management and stress management," Zimmerman added. "We'll also cover problem solving and goal setting. When you have pain day in and day out, that's a common element shared between different conditions."
She stressed how goal setting is important, as is communication with family, friends and doctors.
"Sometimes we can shut down and not communicate well," Zimmerman added. "We'll talk about ways we can communicate better with health care teams."
Also, techniques for advocating for ourselves will be addressed, along with diet and physical activity.
"We know both are so important overall," she said. "And emotions. It's not uncommon to feel depressed."
Research-based information will be stressed, and interaction between group members.
"There's a lot of group interaction and sharing of ideas and solutions to problems, because the same problems are common among different conditions," Zimmerman added.
The minimum needed to participate is eight people; the maximum is 18. People should register by May 10.
There is no charge to attend due to grant funding through the Central Missouri Regional Arthritis Center. Participants also will receive the book, "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions," and a relaxation CD.
To register or obtain more information, call 573-634-2824 or email [email protected].
University of Missouri Extension extends university-based knowledge from the campus to all counties of the state to help strengthen families, businesses and communities.