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.
What is Chronic Pain
Self Management of chronic pain
Chronic Pain Service | NHS Lanarkshire (scot.nhs.uk)
sleep well with pain
Exercises for healthy joints | Back, neck, knee and foot exercises (versusarthritis.org)
Keeping Active | Physiotherapy Pain Association (csp.org.uk)
Breathing Space is a free confidential service for people in Scotland. Open up when you're feeling down - phone 0800 83 85 87
Scotland | Versus Arthritis
Help & Support for people in Pain (painuk.org)
Reading Resources
overcoming chronic pain book - Google Search
mindfulness for health - Google Search
Telephone numbers
Fibromyalgia 0300 999 3333
Arthritis and low back pain 0300 790 0400
NHS help and resources
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 your GP or Practice Nurse can refer you for it.
Medication
Antidepressants and/or pain medications can help improve your mood and in doing so will help with pain management as depression and chronic pain are often linked.
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 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).
Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)
CMHT is a multidisciplinary group of doctors, nurses, and allied health care professionals who work with people experiencing debilitating mental health problems.