## Frequently asked questions ### About Karuna - #### What does "Karuna" mean? Karuna means “compassion” in Sanskrit. At Karuna Labs, our goal is to provide compassionate solutions to patients suffering from chronic pain. Inspired by treating our own family members, Karuna uses state-of-the-art technology and personalized coaching to help patients retrain their brains and unlearn their pain. - #### What is KarunaHOME? How does the KarunaHOME Program work? KarunaHOME is an at-home program designed by Karuna Labs to address a variety of chronic pain conditions. We help chronic pain patients using a compassionate, integrative approach that fuses revolutionary technology with personalized coaching. Over the course of this 12-week multidisciplinary program, we help people suffering from a variety of chronic pain conditions unlearn their pain and get back to doing the things they love. The KarunaHOME program is 100% virtual, meaning you can complete sessions and activities from anywhere. [**Learn More Here**](https://www.karunalabs.com/how-it-works) - #### What are some common indications for KarunaHOME? A non-exhaustive list of common indications for KarunaHOME: - Centralized Pain - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) - Dystonias - Failed Back Syndrome (FBSS) - Fibromyalgia - Frozen Shoulder - Low Back Pain - Phantom Limb Pain - Radiculopathy - Repetitive Strain Injuries - Sciatica - SI Joint Dysfunction - Spondylolisthesis - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome We address other chronic pain conditions as well. [**Contact us to learn more.**](https://www.karunalabs.com/contact) - #### Do you have any published research? Yes! Please [**contact us**](https://www.karunalabs.com/contact) to learn more. ### Program Structure - #### What is included in my KarunaHOME Kit? Every KarunaHOME Kit includes our state-of-the-art device and a patient workbook that gets sent to the patients’ home. - #### How much time is needed for KarunaHOME? On average, patients spend a total of 2.5 to 3 hours per week on KarunaHOME during the 12-week program. Here’s how it breaks down: - Virtual Coaching Sessions: One (1) per week for 60 minutes - Workbook Lessons: One (1) per week for 30 minutes - Independent Activity Sessions: Average three (3) per week for 20-30 minutes each You’ll work directly with your coach to establish a schedule that works for you. All sessions (including coaching sessions) are completed from the comfort of your own home. - #### Do I need to come into a clinic or office? No! The KarunaHOME 12-week program is 100% virtual, meaning you can complete coaching sessions and activities from wherever is most comfortable and convenient for you. - #### Do I get to keep my KarunaHOME Kit? The patient workbook is yours to keep, but the KarunaHOME device must be returned after program completion. You’ll receive a prepaid label at the end of the program to return the device to us. - #### What are examples of KarunaHOME Activities? We currently have 29 activities and we are developing new exercises all the time. - 15 Movement Activities - 14 Coaching Practices Examples of exercises that may be included in your tailored program: - **“Gardening”** - **Progressive Muscle Relaxation** - **Breathing and Meditation Exercises** **Note that this is not a comprehensive list.** Activities will be recommended by your coach based on your specific condition and needs. - #### How do I know if I am eligible for the KarunaHOME program? There are a number of factors that determine patient eligibility for KarunaHOME. Please [**contact us**](https://www.karunalabs.com/contact) to determine eligibility. **Email Us**: info@karunalabs.com **Call Us**: (415) 894-0355 - #### Does KarunaHOME have any drug interactions? Is it safe? The KarunaHOME program is safe, effective, and entirely drug-free, with no risk of drug interactions and no need for surgical intervention. We leverage proven, evidence-based neuroplastic pain treatment techniques and functional rehabilitation methods to develop our program and technology. - #### Do you have any long-term data? How long will the program results last? **KarunaHOME from Karuna Labs uses the protocol for the Pain Reprocessing Therapy method.** The pain reprocessing therapy data from the Boulder Back study includes: A randomized controlled study at the University of Colorado Boulder validated Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) as the most effective current treatment for chronic pain. In the study, there were 100 chronic back pain patients. Half of them received PRT twice a week for four weeks, and half of them received treatment as usual. In the PRT group, 98% of patients improved and 66% of patients were pain-free or nearly pain-free at the end of treatment. These outcomes were largely maintained one year later. Read more at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694 ### Coaching - #### Can I choose my KarunaHOME Coach? No, we cannot guarantee a specific coach. All of our coaches are closely vetted and highly qualified in pain education and functional rehabilitation for neuroplastic pain conditions. We offer both English and Spanish-speaking coaches depending on the patient’s language. - #### What are the qualifications of your coaches? **All Karuna pain coaches are certified by the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC).** They specialize in behavior change and pain reprocessing therapy. Many have additional professional qualifications and personal experience with chronic pain. Our coaches are specifically chosen for their expertise, background, and ability to create personalized experiences and lasting results for our patients. - #### What if I am not a good match with my coach? While we are confident in all of our Coaches and rarely need to reassign patients, we do have a variety of Coaches available. If you are unhappy with your Coach or not a good fit, we would be happy to match you with another Coach. - #### Do I have to use a KarunaHOME Coach? **Yes! Coaching is an integral part of our program**. Our Coaches ensure the long-term success of the program. KarunaHOME Coaches will educate you about the technology you’ll be using throughout the program, provide essential education and tips for you to better manage your chronic pain, and help with accountability in order to ensure you get the best results possible. ### HIPAA/Privacy - #### What is your confidentiality policy? Who has access to the personal information shared? Karuna uses a HIPAA-compliant platform, Practice Better, for all messaging and communication with the clients. The meeting notes that the coach takes are recorded in Practice Better and shared within the platform with the client. If you would like no notes to be recorded in the platform we can do that. The notes that the coach takes are to help keep track of the client’s progress and goals, but they do not need to be recorded electronically or shared if you prefer. All coaches have a confidentiality agreement with the client as well and are as follows: " **CONFIDENTIALITY** The Program Participant acknowledges the Coach will keep all information exchanged during the program sessions in strict confidence. Additionally, the Program Participant is aware that the Coach is prohibited from disclosing any protected healthcare information that may be disclosed to the Coach, except under written authorization by the Program Participant or in response to a duly authorized Court order. " - #### Where can I see your online Privacy Policy? Visit our [**Privacy Policy**](https://www.karunalabs.com/privacy) page to learn more.