as a Biofeedback therapist at Pain Management Center
Felix’s best experience and expertise are from 16 years (2005-2021) of working as a Biofeedback therapist at Center for Pain Management Center of Shirley Ryan Abilitylab (formerly Rehabilitation institute of Chicago) https://www.sralab.org/ and specializing in control of chronic pain and pain related symptoms, sleep problems, anxiety, stress, breathing problems and chronic tension.
Here are examples of Felix’s successful and very effective work at Pain Management Center of Shirley Ryan Abilitylab:
- Recipient of People’s Choice Award, 2013 (awarded by one of his patient)
- Co-author of several Biofeedback and Relaxation studies and Poster presentations at:
Midwest Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting MPS, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016;
Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Annual meeting, 2012;
American Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting APS, 2012 and 2014;
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation AAPM&R Annual Scientific meeting, 2014 and 2015
American Academy of Pain Medicine Annual Meeting AAPM, 2015.
Felix’s scientific contributions are here https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Felix-Laevsky-2024461888
- Winner with co-authors in Poster competitions:
MPS, October, 2011 1st Place: “Biofeedback outcomes for an interdisciplinary pain management program: self – efficacy” and MPS, October, 2014 3rd Place: “The art of initial Biofeedback and Relaxation Training session within an Interdisciplinary Pain Management Program”
- Trained coworkers and psychology students in Biofeedback and relaxation techniques
- Presented Biofeedback along with Pain Team:
to fellow doctors and residents of Northwestern University Feinburg School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
to representatives of Workmen’s compensation companies
at American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chicago, November, 2016
at American Academy of Pain medicine, Vancouver, Canada, 2018
at American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orlando, FL 2018
- One of plenty the patient’s testimonials:
Dearest Felix,
Thank you again so much for everything you did to help me. I will forever be grateful for you and I mean every single word that I’m saying below.
The Pain Management Program at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab is in a class of its own. I spent 2 years of my life searching for a “cure” to my problem — and the solution is this comprehensive program — not infinite medications and procedures.
Every aspect of the program (including patient buy-in) is imperative to obtain a successful outcome. However, learning the relaxation techniques and using biofeedback have proven to be more helpful than I could have possibly imagined. It is extremely empowering to know that I can control my pain just by focusing on breathing and employing relaxation techniques. I wish I could’ve learned this — and all the other techniques from the staff, especially mindfulness and the impact of stress on the body — much sooner in my life.
Biofeedback is critical because the computer’s results are objective, and you can literally see how your body is reacting to the relaxation techniques in real time. That really motivated me to keep practicing and getting better at it to not only control pain and flareups but prevent them entirely. There was no medication, procedure, or anything else that I did prior to the program that has helped me more than biofeedback, relaxation techniques and mindfulness (especially letting go of the fear of the pain).
If you would have told me before the program started to “just breathe” while I was in severe pain and had no way to control it, I would have been insulted and likely angered. But the way in which Felix and the entire staff delicately educate and instruct patients is literally life changing. I never had such appreciation for lemons (imagery technique) and the power of the brain until meeting Felix.
Thank YOU!!! I really appreciate you and the team.
Always
Alex