Wellness Integration for Chronic Illnesses

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Wellness Integration Assignment
Introduction
Chronic illnesses are life-altering conditions that affect the daily life of a patient. Different aspects of life should be assessed to provide interventions that will promote wellness among those individuals who are diagnosed with chronic conditions. In this paper, a wellness integration program for patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) will be discussed.
Chronic Illness Discussion
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic condition that consists of simultaneous neuromuscular disorders (Dimachkie & Barohn, 2013). CIDP is considered an untreatable autoimmune condition that is closely related to the Guillain-Barré syndrome and is known to be its chronic form (NORD, 2021). This condition involves the peripheral nerves resulting in gradual loss of sensation and strength.
It is important to examine the extent of CIDP in the lives of individuals who have this condition and to create a holistic treatment that will be helpful to these populations. One of the many reasons that require a comprehensive approach when dealing with CIDP is the nature of the disease. CIDP has physical, emotional, psychological, and social effects on the life of a person affected by this untreatable condition. Some of the effects of CIDP are impaired balance and decreased finger dexterity, which results in difficulty in performing activities like walking and writing, respectively (Westblad, et al., 2009). As the condition worsens it also affects the functional mobility of the individual resulting in the individual being unable to perform his/her usual activities of daily living. These physical aspects do not only involve the patient’s body, but the mind, feelings, and ability to interact with others as well. Healthcare professionals may provide aid in holistically addressing the impairments of a patient with CIDP using a comprehensive approach to target all the aspects involved with this condition, resulting in overall improved quality of life.
Physical Symptom Management
CIDP is a complex condition and it consists of numerous signs and symptoms that it shares with other disorders. The most common symptoms of CIDP are a progressive weakness on the shoulders, hands, hips, and feet musculature, and sensory loss in the same areas (NORD, 2021). Other common symptoms that are present especially as the condition progresses are balance problems, functional mobility impairment, tingling sensation on extremities, pain, and complaints of fatigue. Given the chronic and progressive nature of CIDP, lifetime management is important to ensure that the impairments that are gradually appearing and worsening are addressed in the best way possible. The physical symptoms and impairments can be primarily addressed using medical treatments and therapies.
An important goal in CIDP treatment is to address the underlying disease process of polyneuropathy, so pharmacological treatment is given to the patient with CIDP to manage and delay further worsening of the symptoms. Corticosteroids such as oral prednisone are one of the first-line intervention for CIDP...