Chronic pain

  • 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.

    Phone
    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.

    Posters
    Live Better to Feel Better (PDF)
    LBFB Poster (PDF)

    Phone
    0300 421 1623

    Email
    gloucestershire.selfmanagement@nhs.net

  • 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.

    Website
    Management options for pain (gloshospitals.nhs.uk)

  • Let’s Talk

    Local courses and one-one help for depression, anxiety and insomnia.
    6 week Manage Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Course.

    Phone
    0800 0732 200

    Website
    Let’s Talk 2gether

  • The Pain Toolkit

    The online Pain Toolkit is for people who live with persistent pain and Healthcare teams who support them.

    Website
    Pain Toolkit

  • Living with Pain

    A non-profit self-help CD produced for people who suffer persistent pain.

    Website
    www.paincd.org.uk

  • 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.

    Poster
    You can check your dose on the thermometer chart (PDF)

  • 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.

    Leaflet
    The great Opioid side effect lottery (PDF)

  • Tazzy Persistent Pain Booklet

    A free downloadable booklet with information on understanding persistent pain.

    Leaflet
    Understanding persistent pain (PDF).

  • Mindfulness

    Meditation exercises to help with stress and pain. Courses available trough Pain Self Management and Let’s Talk.

    Website
    Mindfulness – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

  • 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.

    Website
    Fibromyalgia – Self-help – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

  • 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

  • Understanding pain video

    Understanding Pain What to do about it in less than five minutes.

    Website
    Understanding Pain – YouTube

  • Ten Footsteps

    Learning how to manage your pain is a journey. Like any journey, it takes time and everyone’s experience is different.

    Leaflet
    10 Footsteps – your journey to living with pain (PDF)