Chronic Pain
Pain Management Video Library
Relaxation
The regular practice of relaxation techniques can be a helpful skill to develop when managing stress, pain or difficult emotions. These are different to relaxing activities such as taking a walk or reading a book.
The Pain Toolkit
The online Pain Toolkit is for people who live with persistent pain and Healthcare teams who support them.
Let's Talk
Local courses and one-one help for depression, anxiety and insomnia.
6 week Manage Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Course.
Refer yourself online or by telephone 0800 0732 200
Opioid Painkillers
In persistent pain, using opioid painkillers, such as codeine, tramadol and
morphine for more than a few months, has not been shown to be helpful. As doses increase above the equivalent of 120mg oral morphine per day,
there is a much greater risk of harm and little extra pain relief.
Understanding Pain Video
Sex
Persistent pain, also known as ‘chronic’ pain can affect your sex life, including sexual and emotional intimacy. Whilst some people might live full and contented lives without sexual relationships, others feel it is important to them.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/pain/sex/
Fibromyalgia
If you have fibromyalgia, there are several ways to change your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms and make your condition easier to live with. You may find this NHS guide useful.
Ten Footsteps
Learning how to manage your pain is a journey. Like any journey, it takes time and
everyone’s experience is different.
This Ten Footsteps guide by One Gloucestershire contains useful advice.
ESCAPE-pain
ESCAPE-pain is a rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain of the knees and/or hips, that integrates educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regimen individualised for each participant. It helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can help themselves with, and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better.
Telephone: 020 7188 7188 (extension 57032)
Website: www.escape-pain.org
Email: hello@escape-pain.org
Gloucestershire Self Management - Live Better to Feel Better
Self-management is about finding ways, and learning techniques, which enable you to control your long-term health condition, rather than having it control you.
The Live Better to Feel Better course has been designed with you in mind, to provide you with these techniques as well as the confidence and awareness to use them appropriately.
Telephone: 0300 421 1623
Living with Pain
A non-profit self-help CD produced for people who suffer persistent pain. Visit www.paincd.org.uk to find out more.
Tazzy Persistent Pain Booklet
A free downloadable booklet with information on understanding persistent pain.
Mindfulness
Meditation exercises to help with stress and pain. Courses available trough Pain Self Management and Let’s Talk.
Managing Good Days and Bad Days
It might feel like the pain is in control. There can be traps to fall into; pushing through pain, avoiding activity, or falling into a ‘boom and bust’ cycle.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/managing-good-days-and-bad-days/
Sleep
Sleep is often viewed as one of the top 3 issues for people we see at the pain management service, and because sleep is so necessary to our health and general well-being it makes it a high priority in establishing the best quality of sleep possible.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/pain/sleep/
The British Pain Society
There are many different causes for persistent pain. The aim of this booklet
is to highlight the difficulties associated with persistent pain, and how it can best be treated.
Website: www.britishpainsociety.org
Opioid Side Effects
Opioid painkillers can be really useful for a short time – after an injury or surgery – but longer term they only reduce pain for about 10 per cent of people.
Find out more in the Opioid side effects lottery leaflet by One Gloucestershire.