Resources

For Patients

These links and resources have been compiled and put together by the team at the Pain Toolkit for your reference and what we believe will help you in the self management of your pain.

Last updated 28th June 2023

Information

Pain Toolkit Academy

Pain Toolkit Academy online course for people living with persistent pain

Equip yourself with effective self-management skills to navigate life with persistent pain, enhancing your well-being and quality of life.

Over the past 16 years Pete has been asking other self-managers what have been the key skills that has helped them.

Below are the main ones other pain self managers use from around the world.

5 key pain self management skills:

  • Goal setting / Action planning
  • Pacing daily activities
  • Problem solving
  • Meaningful movement (keeping active, stretching/exercise?
  • Knowing what to do if something goes wrong (have a setback plan)

We’re delighted with the feedback we’ve received from both clinicians and patients who have engaged with our courses. Here are five short quotes reflecting the general experience of patients who have completed the Pain Toolkit course:

  1. ‘The Pain Toolkit Academy gave me the simple tools I needed to take charge of my life again.’
  2. ‘This course transformed my understanding of persistent pain; I now feel empowered instead of defeated.’
  3. ‘I now have practical strategies that help me manage my persistent pain day by day.’
  4. ‘Participating in the Pain Toolkit course was a game changer for my wellbeing and confidence.’
  5. ‘I never realised I could actively participate in managing my persistent pain until I took this course.’
Talking Health

Talking Health has over 20 years experience of supporting the development of generic and condition specific structured self-management education programmes.

NHS Pain Management Programmes (PMP's)

PMP's are in some areas. Your GP can help you find a local PMP. British Pain Society Pain Management Programmes for Adults Participant information

Remember, PMP's and SMP's can provide you with many self-management tools, but you have to do the work!

Community Based Pain Management Register

The Pain Tookit is collating information, as to where Community Based Pain Management Programmes, courses or workshops are being run. Click here to find out if one is being run in your area 

NHS Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

This service can provide information that may help you in locating other support services. You can contact them via your local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group or visit NHS Choices and search via your postcode

Utilising Community Resources

Your local Library is a good starting point as they hold useful information (access to the internet, books, DVD's, CD's and cassettes) about other local health and community initiatives.

Making changes and becoming active

GP exercise on referral: If you are unsure about becoming active or exercising, your GP can refer you to their GP exercise on referral scheme. These types of schemes are run with local gyms and fitness centres and can include facilities for swimming and many other gentle, but beneficial exercise and keep fit regimes. Ask at your GP surgery for more information and about other pain management support available.

Walking for health - Remember: Walking is the cheapest and easiest form of exercise. You can find out more about 'Walking for health’, these are usually run locally by your local Borough Council. Please also visit the Walking Health Initiative website.

Exercise Programmes

Sometimes it can seem like there are as many exercise programmes as there are different makes of cars on the road. A few common ones include Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates (pronounced Pil ar tes).

Please make sure that your teacher is a qualified and experienced in teaching people with persistent pain. Remember, you should be encouraged to exercise at a pace that feels right for you.

Some people go to a Gym to get fitter and because for them its social, but if you don’t want to, then you could attend the NHS Fitness Studio. They have visual stretching and exercising classes, including Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. And yes, all classes are free and available 24hours.

Body Care

Looking after your body is very important and you will need to think about the following;

Eating healthy food, Sleep (sleeping only at night and avoiding cat naps during the day), Hygiene, including washing and grooming your body daily.

Looking after your body is very important and so it is vital that you look at what you put in to it, that you get enough of the healthier types of food and the right amount of sleep and that you also keep yourself clean.

The pain question: Why does it hurt to get older? Why does it hurt at all?

Long term pain is more commonplace than you might think. But explaining why is also more complex. Click here to read this article

Pain and how Psychology can help

As part of Psychology Week 2020, the Australian Psychological Society hosted a free public online event on the topic of pain.

Chronic pain is a common problem. Its impacts are not just physical. It also impacts on emotional, mental and social wellbeing – and its effects touch both the individual and those close to them. Watch video here 

Links

I was really nervous about the online workshop, what would Pete and the others attending be like?

Pete was lovely and so were the others and of course, like everyone else, we learnt very useful skills. Thank you Pete and everyone else who was on the workshop.