WATCH: Giving veterans the tools to manage chronic pain like arthritis

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability in adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A revived program at Dorn V.A. Medical Center that’s been helping veterans manage their chronic pain is expanding to help more South Carolinians.

Blythewood resident Bill Patterson, who served in the Army for 20 years, struggled with chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis. He sought help through the “Better Choices, Better Health” program at Dorn last year, and he’s developed a better regimen for managing his pain, and lessening symptoms.

“My mother died of diabetes. My father died of a heart attack,” Patterson said. “I wanted to do something to break that cycle.”

The six-week workshop is sponsored through a partnership between Dorn and DHEC. Patterson was so inspired by what he learned, he became an instructor for the program.

“I’ve been in their shoes,” he said. “I’ve seen the pain they go through.”

A new crop of instructors, from all walks of life, has been in training at Dorn this week. The additional instructors will enable DHEC to expand the program to seven other community-based VA facilities across the state.

“This program helps them to build their self-confidence, and to learn how to speak for themselves and develop goals to make things better,” DHEC’s Director of Healthy Aging, Michele James said.

The focus of the workshop is on arthritis because it is such a problem, but veterans are taught how to manage really any kind of pain from home, through simple things like eating and exercise.

“They’re sticking to their goals, and then the next week they come back and increase their goals,” instructor and  coordinator for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention at Dorn, Heather Roth, said. “The engagement that I get back when I’m leading a program; it’s just so fulfilling. As a nurse, I’m telling you, this is probably one of the best things I’ve ever done.”