Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Functional Wellness Program

Chronic pain decreases your quality of life by limiting your ability to complete the basic tasks you do every day.

The mission of the Functional Wellness Program is to improve the daily function and quality of life of those living with chronic pain through an interdisciplinary, holistic, patient-centered approach to care.

If you experience chronic pain and standard treatments have not worked, the Functional Wellness Program at the University of Toledo Medical Center can help you find solutions and improve your quality of life.

This unique program in northwest Ohio offers comprehensive treatment for individuals experiencing long-term chronic pain who haven’t achieved the results they want with standard treatment options.

Our specialists take a lifestyle approach to treating chronic pain, with a focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of your disease. We believe your treatment plan should empower you to improve your quality of life and function while limiting the use of narcotic pain medications. Ideally, you’ll use healthcare services less while living a healthier life.

Who is a Candidate?

You’re a candidate for this program if you’ve had chronic, non-cancer pain that has persisted for more than three months and haven’t achieved your desired results with standard treatment options. You should be agreeable to weaning from narcotic medications and to attending the program in its entirety.

You may benefit if you’ve received one of these diagnoses:

• Chronic low-back pain
• Multiple-joint pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Neuropathic pain
• Chronic neck pain
• Myofascial pain
• Chronic headaches/migraine
• Central pain syndromes
• Post-laminectomy syndrome
• Chronic pelvic pain

Your Care Team

Our program’s interdisciplinary team of specialists includes physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, physical and occupational therapists, and counselors, each of whom plays a key role in your treatment. Your care team will help develop a treatment plan for you that may include pain education, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, mindfulness, exercise and lifestyle coaching.

How Does the Program Work?

Our medical director, social worker and physical and occupational therapists all have specialized training to specifically address chronic pain. You will meet with this team weekly to create and work through an individualized treatment plan to break the cycle of pain and restore your well-being. This voluntary outpatient program is seven weeks long and meets three days per week. Sessions are held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

During this program you will meet in small group sessions where you will experience the following:

• Education based in neuroscience to better understand how chronic pain happens in your body and ways to reduce it.
• Gentle guided exercise to increase strength and mobility and confidence in moving your body.
• Learning skills to adapt at home and/or work to increase your ability to function as needed.
• Discussion of the emotional and social stressors and challenges that happen with chronic pain and education on healthy ways to cope.
• Specialized education sessions about nutrition and diet, sleep and understanding how medications work in the body.
• Individual counseling

Schedule an Appointment

Our program is now accepting new patients. A physician referral to Dr. Ashley Schneider is required to participate in the Functional Wellness Program. An initial assessment will include evaluations by our physician, counselor, and physical therapist. To schedule an assessment, call 419.383.4022.

Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance companies cover the program treatment based on medical necessity. Patients may need to confirm with their insurance companies for coverage.