Resources
Pain Medication
Pain medication – a short summary by Dr Lucy Williams is a Specialist in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at The Great Western Hospital, Swindon.
Last updated 28th June 2023
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
I get many emails from people about pain medications and I am unable to answer. So, I thought it would be useful if to ask a Pain Healthcare Professionals to write a short and easy to understand guide.
It always best to discuss to talk to a GP, Pain Doctor, Prescribing Pain Nurse or Pharmacist, BEFORE taking any pain medication (prescribed or over the counter).
If you have any issues with any medication, please contact the, Yellow Card Scheme,
Many thanks to Dr Lucy Williams for putting in information together.
Dr Lucy Williams is a Specialist in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine at The Great Western Hospital, Swindon.
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
It can be useful to use the two questions below to help identify more complex pain.
Question 1
During the past month, has it often been too painful to do many of your day-to-day activities?
Question 2
During the past month, has your pain been bad enough to often make you feel worried or low in mood?
If the patients answers yes to both questions then using the Persistent Pain Cycle tool to guide a fuller assessment and care planning over the next consultation or two.
Ask the patient to circle 2-3 main problems they have at the moment, then jointly write a shared action plan.
A collaborative person centred approach focused on the individual’s physical, emotional and life issues is starting point.
This can identify factors likely to predict persistent pain, disability and distress.
Modifiable factors
Non modifiable factors
A useful tool is the Persistent Pain Cycle tool, which helps both clinicians and patients explore currently the way pain is affecting the person and their life in many ways. It helps shift the conversation for some patients from a “seek, fix and cure” to a more “cope, control and manage” approach. This applies to those with emerging risk of persistent pain where using the Start Tool and the identified psychosocial factors means taking an active approach in enabling the person to:
The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is also a useful tool for assessing depression.
It can be very difficult in the short consultation to identify when pain is already or becoming a major health problem. Many patients are managing their pain and their health well and we do not want to over-medicalise them. However, there are many who will require additional help to support them to minimise the risks of long-term pain.
Experienced GP’s share that several consultations are needed. These then gives continuity and emphasis on empathy, therapeutic relationship and coaching / supporting self-management which makes the difference to patient outcomes. Research evidence from patients say exactly the same thing and it leads to up to 50% reduction in GP consultations and attendance in the long term.
Dr Tim Williams a GP and Community Pain Specialist from Sheffield has developed video called ‘Top Ten Tips for Primary Care Management’ to support GP’s & Health care professionals. Tim’s tips are to help the GP when seeing patients with pain.
This is a “tricky” condition to explain to patients, as changes in the pain nerve system function are multiple.
These include:
The Explain Pain leaflet is a good resource to give patients, to help them understand why pain persists. It and can be downloaded here.
A useful video to recommend to the patient is the “Understanding Pain:” It is has a very simple messages about how pain works, and what to do about it. Many clinicians have found viewing this resource themselves is informative. It is useful as it enables a common and clear understanding between clinician and patient of the faulty neural processing system problems in persistent pain. It can form a common consistent language to help manage the complexity of pain.
Within the patient section of this site are same video links so patients can see to learn more about processing problems of faulty pain systems. Here is a useful video based explanation about faulty pain systems by Lorimer Moseley ‘Body in mind - the role of the brain in chronic pain’.
Self-management of course also includes:
A useful resource to guide management of persistent pain is the Ten Top Tips summary by GP Dr Tim Williams who has special interest in managing pain.
Pain & Self-Management Videos for patients (these are really good short engaging videos to show or signpost patients to)
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
Tired of waiting for pain to go away? This FREE online course will teach you a science based approach to reducing symptoms and getting back to the life you want to live. To register and start the course, please click here.
Talking Health has over 20 years experience of supporting the development of generic and condition specific structured self-management education programmes.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Long term pain is more commonplace than you might think. But explaining why is also more complex. Click here to read this article
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
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
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.
Resources
Last updated 28th June 2023
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.