Local pain management courses?

Just found this website. Hoping to find some sort of pain management course or similar in Edinburgh. Does anyone know of one?

[Bananas5]

Hello LAN33

We moved from Scotland 6 months ago and I do know there are some excellent pain clinics in the country,

Unfortunately one was out at Ninewells in Dundee and the other at Coatbridge and Wishaw. Between then they looked after my David for 12 years and kept him relatively stable. Wonderful; staff at both and a consultant second to none.

Your best bet is to speak with your GP. You will need a referral from him to get an assessment.

I do believe now the waiting times to be seen by pain management is getting ever longer. Ask for a cancellation if you feel it is urgent. They may offer you one.

x

[deejames]

As Pat says the route is through referral from your GP. The clinics generally have long waiting times for the initial appointment and are for chronic pain sufferers eg pain that has lasted longer than 6 months.

While you are waiting there are numerous suggestions online for stratagies to help you cope with your pain. You could start with guided meditations. Many many free apps to try some much better than others. I find mindfulness type meditation good.

You don't say anything about your pain or what you are doing at the moment. A bit more information if want to give it might help others to make suggestions that you could try in the meantime.

Dee

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

Really bad back pain since last March. Have tried Physio, osteopathy (very helpful), Pilates (equally helpful), exercise in the gym and exercises at home - have been trying to 'work through' the pain and keep myself mobile. Also have meds etc but really do try to do without meds when I can. Sometimes get relief, then a bad flare up and that's when I hit the bufffers. I've just downloaded a 'mindfulness for pain' app.

I'm aware that this is probably how it's going to be from now on and I have to get through the flare ups and be as optimistic as possible.

Are the things I've mentioned above the kinds of things you do at pain management courses? If so maybe I should forget asking for a referral and just keep plugging away myself. I'd appreciate any other tips and recommendations though.

[Bananas5 in reply to Hidden]

Pain management is exactly what it says. Managing your pain.

Yes you will learn how to do exercises etc. You will know yourself what meds help and what don't. But the biggest part is you managing your pain to a level you can live with.

It is likely you have to change your lifestyle. It is called pacing. Learning to stop doing something before the pain gets to a level meds can't help. That is hard. You feel good so you carry on that little bit more. Often that is where the flair up kicks in and even harder to get on top of.

Can you tell I am a huge advocat of pain management?! I feel sometimes we could all do with a refresher course!

Acupuncture may help. Either through your NHS or privately if you can afford it. TENS machine are also very good. They used to be provided by pain clinics but that was a long time ago.

Hope this helps you a bit

x

[Hidden in reply to Bananas5]

Yes that all makes sense. I actually bought a cheap tens machine, not sure if it's really effective but I'll keep using it. I'm really interested in what you call 'pacing'. Makes so much sense. I'll have to really think about it and be conscious of everything I do. That's so helpful, thanks!.

[Bananas5 in reply to Hidden]

TENS make the body produce its own natural pain relief - endorphins. If you can get on with one they are good.

Pacing is hard!!! I have a husband who broke his back over 30 yrs ago, has many related conditions, takes very strong meds now but.....never listens to his body. Nor me!

Happy to help

x

[deejames in reply to Hidden]

I would ask for a referral. Perhaps a lot might be what you know already ut it's good to have confirmation. Also meeting others in the same situation is helpful provided it doesn't turn into ' my pain is worse than your pain' sessions. Usually the pain management team are good at deflecting that. The pacing techniques that Pat mentioned are often best outlined by the team. I thought I was doing it until my course then I realised the mistakes I was making . The mistakes I still make !

Much of it is mindset. Acceptance that this is you now and it's up to you to make the best of it not to look back and wish for what is now gone. Again, I get trapped in that place far too often and my mental health suffers.

You will get assessed by the team initially. My thinking is accept everything you are offered.

I guess you live in or near Edinburgh. The city where I grew up and still have contacts. Hope you get the referral soon

Dee

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

Thanks for that. I'm thinking I will ask for a referral when I see the Physio in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile I downloaded a 'pain and mindfulness' app which I went through this morning before I got up. It said just what you wrote - accept and work with your pain (I'm paraphrasing badly!). That plus giving in and taking meds when I have to will see me through to my next appointment. Thanks again, that was helpful!

[deejames in reply to Hidden]

Core strength is crucial for back pain. So Pilates is great. No sit up though. Sorry Grace but they work mostly the back and can be detrimental for back problems. I've been taught how to work the core from the back as well as side to side. Se me in a waiting room somewhere and the look of concentration ( possibly more constipation !) gives a clue to me doing my core exercises.

Dee

[Bananas5 in reply to deejames]

What a lovely image Dee!!

x

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

I have a really good Pilates instructor who tailors her sessions to meet the needs of participants, so I know what to do, or at least I'm learning. Then I try to do some of the stuff at home in between classes.

I'm really trying to strengthen my core, and it does take concentration and lots of grunting and groaning from me. Very embarrassing if I'm not on my own. Plus I'm trying to learn to do strengthening exercises as I'm walking, or just sitting around. I hope it will make a big difference, as I don't want it to get as bad as it's been lately. Pain is easing now, and I'm trying to keep a detailed 'pain diary' so that I can discover if there is anything causing these flare-ups.

[grace111 in reply to deejames]

sorry but if your looking as if your constipated then your using your using the wrong muscles . your stomach is not strong enough and thats why your using your face when your exercising. people in serious pain should go to a studio or one to one instruction so that they are given the proper guidance and dont injure themself.even then they will still have some head and neck pain at first as it takes a while to get a strong stomach. only a good teacher can decide if a sit up is wrong for an individual. the proper muscles must be used and there is more than one way to do a sit up. most people think they know how to do a sit up and come up to far in the begining and hurt themself. a good teacher will take you through this doing it only coming up a tiny bit at first until the musles are strong enough to lift you further. when exercising even if your not doing pilates. it pays to be mindful. i watch people in the gym listening to music while they exercise, i like to pay attention to every muscle that im working.its all part of a good work out and takes me out of my head and worries. i hope that your feeling a lot better since your operation now and that your feeling more optimistic. its good that your being very careful. as you know your body better than i do. love grace xoxo 🙋🏼

[deejames in reply to grace111]

It was a joke Grace. My core muscles are very active thanks. I think with core muscles the important thing is to strengthen them but also to develop an almost unconcious activation with most activities such as bending , lifting, walking, sitting.

Thanks for asking about the operation. Not very positive news but I try to be optomistic.

Dee

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

Hey Dee, I'm really trying to do what you described: that unconscious activation... when I remember I try to work at it in lots of different situations, i.e. walking the dog, having breakfast, sitting on the bus... I find it hard to make it an automatic action but keep on trying.

Meanwhile I'm hoping my pain diary will show up some interesting things. I'll do it for a few more days and then look for some common denominators.

As long as I'm being proactive in dealing with my pain, I feel better and more optimistic. The worst thing for me is feeling that I don't have any control or responsibility over my own health at all.

I hope you're ok. Your posts are really helpful. (Finger crossed for you... I'm just new and I'm not sure what's been going on)

[grace111]

edinburgh university run courses on pain management. im not sure if that will be exactly what your looking for but you could google pain management courses in edinburgh, thats what i did and it came up with quite a few from the university. worth looking at. what i found really good for pain, especially on my lower back and i also have a damaged sciatic nerve is an inversion table. its in my cupboard at the moment as im letting my scar from recent operation heal. there are bits that lock your feet in and then you can choose how much you want to lie back on it and i could feel my muscles lengthen while i was on the table its so relaxing you want to go to sleep, its like yoga only your not lying upside down unaided.its good for all of your body.many people including myself have back pain because they have weak tummy muscles. however if your doing pilates then you will know exactly how to do those sit ups only using your stomach muslces.you can do sit ups on the inversion table to, its well worth looking into.im looking forward to getting my inversion table out again in another few months. i cant say enough good things about the inversion table and highly reccomend it for back pain and sciatic pain. love grace xoxo 🙋🏼

According to an article in the "Los Angeles Times," inversion can be risky for people with certain conditions because the blood flow to the head increases and the body is put in an "unnatural inverted state." Anyone with high blood pressure, glaucoma, weak bones or with heart or circulatory disorders are discouraged from being inverted. Women who are pregnant or who are obese should also consult a doctor before attempting inversion.

[grace111]

nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/Serv... if you go to this page. just type it in to google you will come to a place where there are many recorded audio files that you can listen to giving us help for pain mangement. i will be trying this too. hope its helpful love grace xoxo🙋🏼 this link has audios of part of pain management class that they held.

[Hidden]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Very very many thanks for all those suggestions. I'll spend the rest of the day googling!!! And I'll get out the tens machine and give it another try. And especially I'll keep checking in here. It's so great to hear from all of you! I'll let you know what helps.

[Hidden]

Has anyone ever used a 'kneeling chair'? Someone has loaned one to me - at first it felt fabulous, took pressure off my back. It seems a bit difficult to sustain though.

[AndrewT]

Dear LAM33,

Yes I have heard, of kneeling Chairs, and also that 'some are better than others'. My personal experience is VERY limited....I have never actually tried one. Your best bet, I suggest anyway, is to contact a 'Mobility', or 'Did-abled' (God I hate that word) shop. There are also a number of Companies, that 'do' this type of product. Try 'Days Medical', to begin with-if you 'Google' it, other similar companies may well appear. Worth a try surly.

Best wishes and Happy New Year 2017

AndrewT

[Hidden]

Thanks very much, Andrew. When I googled,it, one of the websites said it shouldn't be used for long stretches of time. Makes me wonder exactly how they should be used and for how long etc. I'll keep looking for info and ask around, and post anything helpful I find out.

And a very happy and pain free new year to you too!