San Jose and Sacramento clinics

Functional Restoration Program

A physician led, interdisciplinary program for people whose chronic pain has not responded to medication, injections or surgery. Six disciplines, one team, one plan, measured week by week.

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6disciplines on one team

2clinic locations

Weeklydocumented progress reporting

MTUSand ACOEM guideline based

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What is functional restoration?

The Functional Restoration Program at our San Jose, California location is designed for patients who have not been able to cope with chronic pain, who have had unsuccessful outcomes from prior treatment and medications. The NMCI Medical Clinic Functional Restoration Program San Jose and Sacramento clinic teams are composed of doctorate-level pain psychologists, pain management physicians and physical therapists to reduce and manage chronic pain and difficulties. We specialize in areas of pain reduction, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, nutrition, education in self-management and the art of relaxation.

The Functional Restoration Program at our San Jose and Sacramento clinic locations will be tailored specifically for your needs, goals and concerns. The interdisciplinary method for our Functional Restoration Program identifies and works through obstacles that may block progress in reaching your specific goals for optimal improvement.

How Can NMCI Clinic Help?

NMCI San Jose offers a functional restoration program that is designed to help reduce the negative impacts associated with chronic pain. The functional restoration team’s goal is to reduce depression, stress, anxiety, and overall bodily effects of these issues.

Who the program is for

Chronic pain lasting beyond the expected healing time for the injury
Prior treatment, medication or surgery that did not restore function
Reliance on pain medication the patient wants to reduce
An injured worker whose return to work has stalled
Depression, anxiety or sleep loss that has grown around the pain

What you will do during the program

Your team of professionals builds the treatment plan with you and teaches you to manage pain independently, so progress holds after the program ends. Services and education include the following.

Pain Management Education

You will learn about available medications, their effectiveness, and side effects. You will learn the current theories of pain management and ways to independently manage your pain.

Physical Therapy

This time of exercise and conditioning will provide you with exercises to help strengthen your body with a focus on targeting areas of concern. You will also increase your overall endurance through this training. The conditioning exercises will be monitored throughout the program by a professional, ensuring proper movement and safety during exercise and light yoga.

Psychological Assistance

You will learn and practice cognitive-behavioral strategies in order to arm you with coping skills specifically for your chronic pain. This is known as positive psychology and will reduce anxiety and depression levels. You will also meet with a psychologist to learn individualized relaxation methods effective for anxiety and depression such as meditation. Cognitive behavioral techniques are a proven method of turning a negative mindset into a positive one that can power through the harder periods of life. You will learn how proper communication is the starting point to reaching out to your team or others for help as well as helping others.

Stress Relief

Mental and emotional relief methods include yoga, art, and meditation. You will also learn relaxation techniques for self-soothing and active self-management. Your team will also provide you with sleep education. Proper sleep will help your body restore itself and reduce levels of anxiety.

Nutrition Counseling

Good food choices are a key component to your overall health. Your nutrition counselor will provide you with information on foods that help reduce inflammation as well as foods you may want to avoid. You will also learn about weight management and the role it plays in reducing problems with inflammation.

Vocational Counseling

Vocational counseling provides you with methods of improving your communication skills as well as determining your strengths. You will discuss your goals in life and available vocations. The ultimate goal of vocational counseling is to help you get back to work and living a higher quality of life.

How the program runs

A typical week in the program

Block	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
Morning	Physician check in and physical conditioning	Physical therapy and functional testing	Physical conditioning and work simulation
Midday	Pain management education	Nutrition counseling	Group education and goal review
Afternoon	Individual pain psychology	Stress relief: yoga, art, meditation	Vocational counseling and return to work planning

Sample schedule. Your plan is built around your goals, your work restrictions and how you progress.

What we measure

Progress you can see on paper

Function, not just pain scores. Every patient is measured at intake, during the program and at discharge, so the improvement is documented for the patient, the treating physician and the claim.

Lifting, carrying, standing and tolerance testing
Medication use and reduction over the course of the program
Depression, anxiety and sleep measures
Activities of daily living and return to work status

Patient stories

Patients who finished the program

Four patients who completed the program, in their own words.

LisaThe first day changed me, and I looked forward to it every week.

Read the transcript

Lisa: But coming here, the first day even changed me, you know, just by the things that we did. And then as I worked through it every week, I was looking forward to it. Telling my friends and, you know, coworkers all about the program, my family, and, you know, just seeing that it does make a difference. But you have to take the first step and make up your mind and just do it.

Interviewer: Can you share your experience on how the program affected your energy level and how it affected your mood?

Lisa: Okay. My energy...

JavierGolfed nine holes after ten years, then hiked in Hawaii.

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Javier: I got invited to go golfing at a fancy golf course where it's club members, right? And I haven't been golfing in, geez, maybe ten years, and, you know, I was able to do nine holes and no back problems, good swings. My stroke was better. This is a little weird, right? But... And then after that, I went to a baseball game and watched the A's here in Sacramento, and I was able to sit through the whole game and my back wasn't hurting, my knee was okay. You know, it was just a great experience. Recently, I just got back from Hawaii and I was able to go on hikes with my wife, able to go walk along the beach. You know, go in the ocean and go swimming with dolphins actually out in the ocean. And before, I would have been too scared to try any of those activities 'cause I would be ruining the rest of the trip by having a, not a bad attitude, but just being in a poor mood because I was hurting, and then my wife wouldn't enjoy everything...

CareyPosture corrected, and he measured an inch taller.

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Interviewer: So I have heard that you had some changes in your posture and even in your height. Could you elaborate on that?

Carey: Yeah. Coming into this, I have always been six foot one as long as I can remember. And after working closely with Fajun and Kim, and taking the practices home and continuing to work on them, I've started to straighten out my posture. I'm able to actually sit up straight. With that, my overall height has increased, and we double and triple checked, from six foot one to six foot two. So I gained a whole inch of height, just being able to...

AdrianaCould not lift her arm past her chest for eleven years.Spanish with English subtitles

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Adriana speaks Spanish. An interpreter translates for the interviewer.

Interviewer: Perfect. Now, can you show us how much you could raise your arm before coming to the program, and how much you can raise it now?

Interpreter: Perfecto. Entonces, ¿nos puedes mostrar hasta dónde te llegaba el brazo antes de venir al programa, y hasta dónde lo puedes levantar ahora?

Adriana: Antes de venir al programa, mi brazo, me preguntaba el doctor, este, que lo hiciera así, y yo nada más le hacía así. ¡Au, au, au! No podía más.

Interpreter: Before coming to the program, the doctor would tell me to stretch my arm out, and the only movement that I would do was as I'm showing right now. And it would be very painful. I would be like, "Au, au, au." And it would get to the point where I couldn't go any farther.

Interviewer: And can you show us what you can do now?

Interpreter: ¿Y nos puedes mostrar qué puedes hacer ahora?

Interviewer: That's pretty easy.

Adriana: Sí.

Interviewer: And can you actually raise your arm like that...

Interpreter: Eso se ve bastante fácil.

Interviewer: ...to twenty degrees?

Adriana: Sí.

Interpreter: De hecho, ¿puedes levantar el brazo directamente hacia arriba? ¿Nos puedes mostrar?

Adriana: Sí. Sí, porque antes nomás me llegaba hasta aquí, y ahora...

The team

Meet the Functional Restoration team at NMCI San Jose

How do I enroll?

Call or send records

Call the San Jose clinic at (408) 988-8581 or send a referral with the current records and claim information.

Records review

The coordinator and physician review prior treatment, imaging and medication history to confirm the program fits.

Intake evaluation

A physician, physical therapist and psychologist evaluate function and set the goals your plan is measured against.

Authorization

For workers' compensation patients we handle the authorization request and the guideline documentation.

Start the program

Sessions begin at San Jose or Sacramento with weekly progress notes to everyone involved in your care.

Start an Enrollment

Common questions

How long is the program?Length depends on your goals and progress. Most patients attend multiple sessions per week over a structured course of weeks, and the plan is reviewed as function improves.

Will my workers' compensation claim cover it?Functional restoration is a recognized treatment under the MTUS for chronic pain. We prepare the authorization request with the guideline citations and the objective findings.

Do I have to stop my medication?No. Reducing medication is a goal for many patients, and it is done with your physician, gradually, never abruptly.

Is this the same as physical therapy?No. Physical therapy is one of six parts. The program adds pain education, psychology, stress relief, nutrition and vocational counseling, delivered by one coordinated team.

What if I do not live near San Jose?The program also runs at our Sacramento clinic. Call either location and we will tell you which schedule fits.