Hi, hope everyone is well as they can be. I’ve been having a rough patch for quite along time now and I’m about to start a pain clinic course (online and phone because of Covid) through my doctor . A lot of what I’ve read in the info they send I have some knowledge on as I’ve had fibromyalgia for 12 years.
Have other people done the course? If so how did they find it?
Thank you
I did the pain management course at Leicester Royal Infirmary that was half a day for about 10 weeks. It was very useful. I also did a residential 2 week programme at Unsted Park rehabilitation hospital near Guildford, funded by my then employers’ insurance. That was very intensive and focussed on improving physical fitness and mobility as a way to better overall health. Twenty years in, I still do the daily exercises to keep my body moving, despite the pain. The courses helped me to get some sort of life beyond pain and I am grateful for the chance I was given to go on them.
Thank you for your reply. Fingers crossed, for a similar result.
They didn't send me on the course bc I already did exercise everday and had knowledge of mindfulness which they said is basically what the course was.
Ok thank you .I do yoga every day and try to be mindful but don’t always succeed. I feel I know a lot of it too. Hope learn something new as well.
I did a lot of mindfulness and meditation for years absolutely hated it! I'm really highly strung and anxious person meditation often made my pain levels worse and I didn't find it relaxing. When I did meditation in groups there would always be a bloke who fell asleep, used to drive me crazy as I would feel so different to everyone else.
Mind you that's why I do HIT training, it's the only thing that tires out my muscles enough to get rid of all the tension.
Having said all that I think I still do benefit from the concepts of mindfullness, so I find I can use the ideas to calm myself down if I'm getting panicky etc.
Thank you, it’s all online and phone calls and videos to watch. Stress causes havoc with the body. Unfortunately for me stress is a unavoidable part of my life at the moment. Hopefully I will learn to process it better.
I did the course in Exeter. It was definitely a case of 'you get out what you put in'.....I am a typical macho male.....fight it and don't give in sort of thing....BUT.....I learned quickly to dial down the testosterone and just listen to others' experiences with 'it'. I found an exercise buddy who was twice my age and a real Lady.....we bonded and my dearest friend Kathy kept me going thru the hard times. So I realized that it is important to not do this on your own
I love your reply, the hard man accepting his own weakness and sharing with others. It’s hard for us men to be open and honest with each other let alone the opposite sex. Yes talking about or sexually, problems and health issues can become easier once we have gained the trust of a fellow sufferers or friends. Well done those who have unloaded their burden and found relief in sharing.
Thank you, unfortunately I have to do it on my own because of Covid restrictions there are no group meetings. I I’m going into with an open mind. Glad u had a positive experience.
I did mine over zoom at the end of last year and found it very helpful. It wasn’t a magical cure-all but it did explain the mechanics of chronic pain, how to live with it, pace myself, be mindful etc. An open mind is a must.
Thank you. Going into it with an open mind definitely.
Hi, I completed course and it was life changing ,really x I was prior to attending ,exercising regularly and didn't really hold up much thought in how it would help me. The hydrotherapy was good as I learnt correct exercises i could carry on and still do.
The gym part was not helpful as I was happy with my own exercise but what I wasn't doing properly was stretching . What helped me was being in a classroom , to learn coping techniques with mindfulness, group exercise ,meditation ,even crafts ,talking ,walking and learning more importantly to accept my pain
.It sounded mad as I had for years refused pain and ignored my body n fought on and hadn't a clue about pacing ,thinking I would achieve more by pushing myself to ridiculous regimes that were impacting more on me and making my pain worse as would be fit for nothing then for a few days. My having a huge amount of information and opening my mind to at least listen as I was quite dismissive at first , I learnt loads from the teachers and the group all with their own cross to bear of varying chronic pain and how hopeless and sorry for ourselves we felt but sharing made a massive difference and we still support each other by messages which is lovely when I hit a bleak spot and want to moan but not to family.
I have embraced ,exercise ,mindfulness ,stretching, meditation and crafts even and left the medication that made me feel worse ,in the cupboard. I have the same amount of pain still today but I now have coping techniques which I believe in which I have finally understood and use it as my life raft instead of focussing on ,poor me ,there is no cure . I do take pain relief at night but could not bear the zombie like state ,the side affects were having on me, from the even stronger ones ,even Morphine with lots of others , that were being prescribed before my Pain Clinic and I am now enjoying my new normal xxxx
Thank you for your reply. I hope it is a successful for me.
Pain Management Clinic 
Pain Management Clinic
Pain clinic got it wrong 
No pain clinic for me
Referral to pain clinic. 
