If I have pain there must be something wrong?
Pain is a sensation that communicates danger /threat in our system, and allows us to be aware of an injury, in order to respond to that situation. However, pain mechanisms can go wrong just as other parts of the body can go wrong. Persistent pain persists because the mechanism does not switch off, even when the tissue area has healed. There may be other sensations experienced because of this hypersensitivity, such as temperature changes.
What are the symptoms of chronic pain?
It is often difficult to communicate pain as it is such a personal experience. Pain sensations usually do not exist alone. Other problems associated with living in pain can include changes in sleep pattern; mobility and functional difficulties; mood changes such as anxiety/ frustration; withdrawal from social activities and fatigue.
Is there a cure for chronic pain?
Unfortunately, persistent pain is a common problem and there is not one treatment that will take it away completely. Most people have tried a number of interventions, including medication. Pain Management Programmes aim to help manage pain so that the individual can move forward living well, despite the pain.
How will talking about my pain help?
In order to manage pain it is important to understand the individual pain experience.
The assessment with our service is an opportunity to talk about the impact the pain has on all aspects of the individual’s life. Over time many people develop ways of coping with their pain. Exploring how someone understands their pain will then help develop different strategies to focus on in the future.