Hope for Chronic Pain
Reported August 15, 2005

ROCKVILLE, Utah (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Thousands of Americans are out of work and permanently disabled because of chronic pain. Usually these patients are treated with heavy doses of medication, however, a new program combines the best of several therapies to pack a serious punch.

Today, Myrna Soderquist makes sure every customer leaves her store with a pair of shoes and a smile. Soderquist was in severe pain and didn't have much to smile about a few months ago after two hip replacements, back surgery and a leg lengthening procedure.

Soderquist has chronic pain. "It was very, very difficult for me to just walk through a complete step," she explains. Doctors even labeled her permanently disabled, and she needed more than 10 prescription pain pills a day.

"One of my sons saw the list of medication, and he made me promise that I wouldn't take it I think that was the thing that woke me up," Soderquist says.

She needed help and found it at The Bridge Health Recovery Center, a healing center where doctors combine therapies to treat pain.

Greg Bart, M.D., consulting physician at The Bridge, says, "I don't think you can ever approach chronic pain without a multi-disciplinary approach." Dr. Bart works with other specialists to customize rehabilitation. Along with standard care, patients receive exercise and nutrition training, acupuncture, massage and psychotherapy all in one place.

"It's not really original. It's just that we've finally combined it and put it under bricks and mortar, and it works," explains Daren Brooks, founder of The Bridge.

Patients who completed the program cut their meds by 80 percent and 70 percent went back to working full time. Compare that to the national average of less than 10 percent.

Soderquist works about 60 hours a week and is down to two pain pills a day. "I love it. I can go down, and I can go up all day long."

Patients usually spend three weeks at The Bridge. It costs nearly $13,000, which covers the cost of the program, lodging, food and airfare. Insurance typically covers it. Doctors at the bridge see all types of patients, including those with conditions such as pain, fatigue, depression, obesity, diabetes, fibromyalgia and anxiety