Pain Management Helpful Resources

Information for participants of pain management programmes: what are they? What do they cover? How to get on one? https://www.britishpainsociety.org/static/uploads/resources/files/book_pmp2013_participant.pdf 

Pain Concern provides information and support for pain sufferers, those who care for them and about them, free factsheets and leaflets to help you manage your pain. www.painconcern.org.uk

VIDEO: Understanding Pain in less than 5 minutes, and what to do about it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_3phB93rvI

VIDEO: Pain and Me: Tamar Pincus talks about chronic pain, acceptance and commitment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXPqphwp2U
 

VIDEO: Tame the beast: It’s time to rethink persistent pain. https://www.tamethebeast.org/#tame-the-beast

Free self-management courses providing tools and techniques to help you to take control of your health and manage your condition better on a daily basis. The majority of the courses are delivered by trained tutors who have experience of living with a long-term health condition. selfmanagementuk.org

Versus Arthritis: Two major UK arthritis charities have now joined forces to offer information on current research, treatments, developments, news and opportunities to get involved. https://www.versusarthritis.org/

BackCare is a registered charity that aims to reduce the burden of back pain by providing information and support, promoting good practice and funding research. The charity acts as the hub between patients, (healthcare) professionals, employers, policy makers, researchers and all others with an interest in back pain. www.backcare.org.uk

VIDEO: ‘Back pain – separating fact from fiction’. https://youtu.be/dlSQLUE4brQ

The Equality Act aims to prevent employers from discriminating on the grounds of long-term ill health or disability and to make reasonable adjustments to support people in work. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act-2010/what-equality-act

Access to Work provides advice to employees and employers, assessing for equipment, environmental adaptations and support.
If you require additional advice with your employer you can contact:
• the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service ACAS on 0300 123 1100
• your trade union, if you are a member.

If you need support in getting  a job, you can find information here: https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-disabled

Fibromyalgia Association UK is a registered charity administered by unpaid volunteers. FMA UK was established in order to provide information and support to sufferers and their families. In addition, the Association provides medical information for professionals and operates a national helpline. www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org

VIDEO from the BBC: Fibromyalgia: 'Like red hot lava radiating through my body': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c2qlz4pepkmt/fibromyalgia

Many activities and exercise forms can support the longer-term wellbeing of people living with pain.

The Taoist Tai Chi Society of GB is a registered charity that teaches tai chi to the community to help people improve their health and wellbeing: www.taoist.org/uk

The University of the Third Age (U3A) are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun: www.u3a.org.uk

A Bristol-based Index of social groups and clubs in Bristol listed by interest group: https://www.bristolindex.co.uk/community/clubs.asp

Mindfulness based or informed approaches have become well known in the management of pain and other symptoms.

 
“Mindfulness means  ‘awareness’, yet surely when any of us are suffering from searing physical pain… we seem to be too aware of our suffering .

How on earth can learning to become even more aware possibly help?” (Mark Williams' foreword to Mindfulness for Health by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman).

The awareness we are cultivating in mindfulness is wise and kind.  We find this enables people to have increased awareness of how subtle processes of mind can turn up the volume on pain.  This body-mind approach sees the individual  as possessing the  resources they need to manage their health  and mindfulness supports the recognition and cultivation of these resources.

There are some links below to more information and practices you may wish to try. Please be aware that the increased awareness developed by these practices is not always easy and most people need support in using them to gain the most benefit.  The pain management service can support you in learning mindfulness as part of your self-management. 
The Frantic World the website of the finding peace and living well with health and illness: http://franticworld.com/   (Danny Penman, Mark Williams and Vidyamal Burch)

Some free mindfulness downloads: http://www.freemindfulness.org/download

https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

The UK listing has qualified and accredited practitioners: https://www.ukmindfulnessnetwork.co.uk/uk-listing/
 

This list of books have been suggested by our patients and clinicians. There are many books available, and we have selected a few that we think are well-written and helpful. However, we also know that some people prefer different styles of writing and different approaches.
We have written a summary of each book to give you an idea of the content.
You should be able to request these books from your local library.

Overcoming chronic pain: A self help guide by using cognitive behavioural techniques by Frances Cole, Helen Macdonald, Catherine Carus, Hazel Howden – Leach.
Practical ways to improve sleep, relaxation, relationships, fitness and pacing of activities.

Manage your pain by Michael Nicholas, Alan Molloy, Lois Tonkin and Lee Beeston.
Easy to dip in and out of. All-round coverage of Pain Management methods, including an ordered approach to a pain management programme.

Coping Successfully with pain by Neville Shone.
Personal description of his chronic pain experiences including using the methods from a pain management programme to improve his life. A fairly easy read.

Living with fibromyalgia by Christine Craggs-Hilton 
An easy read with practical tips written in a caring way. Gives sensitive tips on how to cope physically, mentally and emotionally.

Painful Yarns by Lorimer Moseley.

Explains what message pain is sending you about your body. Practical stories explaining pain mechanisms in simple terms.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding and getting relief from pain that won’t go away. By Don L Goldenberg. 
Has a personal perspective. Works through some complex material in an easy to understand way. Does use some jargon.

Manage your mind by Gillian Butler and Tony Hope.
Self-help for low mood an anxiety. Several tools to try. Practical approaches to help solve common difficulties.

Living Well with Pain and Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering by Vidyamala Burch.
An inspiring and practical book. Good for anyone wishing to begin meditating and practicing mindfulness. Contains practical exercises.

The Mindful Way through Depression by Mark Williams, Jon Teasdale, Jon Kabat Zinn and Zindel Segal.
Free of Jargon. Offers everyday coping mechanisms that are easy to introduce.