The documents and links contained within this web page will explain more about chronic pain, how this is different from acute pain and a bit more about how chronic pain is managed. Once completed you will have a better understanding of pain management and have the tools to improve your quality of life.
Chronic pain affects millions of people in the UK, so you’re not alone. It can have a huge impact on your quality of life and can also affect the lives of your family and those around you. Our goal is to use this website and other resources to support and empower you to improve your quality of life and live with pain.
Do you have pain which has been ongoing for more than 6 months? If so, we are running a program which we hope will be helpful for your pain.
FMG Pain Webinar
Lee Vaughan has developed an excellent website called Partnering Pain, by patients with chronic pain for patients with chronic pain.
Understanding Chronic Pain
The “Understanding persistent pain” leaflet below provides information for people who have been told they have chronic pain.
Medication in Chronic Pain
Only 30% of patients get 30% of the benefits from medication 30% of the time.
The video below ‘Some pain medications can make your pain worse’ is by Dr Deepak Ravindran, a Pain Consultant in Reading.
Opioid Side Effects & Reducing and Stopping Opioids
For information on the side effects of opioids and for information on how to reduce and stop opioids.
Fibromyalgia
Flippin’ Fibromyalgia: Making sure people who get it. GET IT
Flippin’ Fibromyalgia: your questions answered!
Self-Management
How to Pace Yourself
Living Well with Pain
Professor Tamar Pincus discusses how to live well with chronic pain.
Online Resources
Sleep Well With Pain Patient Leaflet
Physiotherapy Keep Active Videos
Aliss Community Health & Wellbeing
Pain Association Scotland Help and Support
Podcasts
#310 How To Heal Chronic Pain with Dr Howard Schubiner
#472 How to Break Free from Chronic Pain and Reclaim Your Life with Professor Peter O’Sullivan
Below is Peter’s story. He was told there was nothing else for him following an industrial accident and that he would be in chronic pain for the rest of his life.
Reading Resources
- Overcoming Chronic Pain by Francis Cole
- Mindfulness for Health by Danny Penman and Vidyamala Burch
- The Pain Free mindset by Dr Deepak Ravindran
- The Way Out: Approach to Healing Chronic Pain by Alan Gordon
Telephone Helpline Numbers
- Fibromyalgia 0300 999 3333
- Arthritis and low back pain 0300 790 0400
Facebook has a Partnering Pain page run by patients with chronic pain. You can also scan the QR code below.
NHS Help & Resources
NHS Inform Chronic Pain
For help and advice regarding chronic pain from NHS Inform
Psychological Support with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Chronic pain involves thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT is a form of therapy that helps us to retrain thoughts, feelings and behaviours to help you manage pain so it doesn’t manage you. It helps you to look after your whole self and improve your long term quality of life. It is an 8 week online course supported by a therapist who will check in on you weekly. It takes around 1 hour a week but you can go at your own pace, in your own home. You need to give it a chance to work so a bit like a tablet or exercise its results will build up over time. If interested in this or other options available, please discuss with your GP or Practice Nurse.
TENS Machine
A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes. The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. These can be purchased online or talk to your local pharmacist.
Occupational Health Support
Occupational health support is a specialist branch of medicine that focuses on the physical and mental well-being of employees in the workplace. Occupational health aims to prevent work-related illness and injury by: encouraging safe working practices for example ergonomics (studying how you work and how you could work better). Please ask your employer what Occupational Health services they provide.
Tayside Pain Service
Tayside Pain Service is made up of consultants, specialised physiotherapists and a psychologist who help people experiencing pain which causes a large impact on day to day life. It is a rehabilitative service so it cannot cure pain but instead help people to learn to live with their pain and improve their quality of life as much as possible.