My name is Louise, I run Northamptonshire Chronic Pain Support, I
support people affected by chronic pain, including family members as well as
carers. I set up NCPS in January 2018 due to there being a lack of support for
people who have undiagnosed pain in Northamptonshire. There are a few groups
for people who have been diagnosed with things like arthritis and fibromyalgia
but it is possible to have pain that affects your life and no medical reason.
There is a lot of research into this at the moment but in the meantime people’s
lives are on hold as they feel judge, unsupported and scared for the future.
I have had chronic pain for a number of years, I found I was stuck
in a cycle of grief, for the person I used to be and the life I used to have.
Nothing on the outside has changed but inside I felt I was facing a constant
battle both physically and mentally.
I could no longer do the simple things we all take for granted
such as getting out of bed, washing, going to the toilet. Can you imagine going
from your independent self, so being able to just get up out of bed, get washed
and dressed, have breakfast, go to work and come home. To suddenly not being
able to the energy to get out of bed, every joint hurting and physically stiff?
I faced a constant battle of guilt over things, like not being
able to work but also being at home all day unable to cook a meal or even do a
little housework, my partner was extremely understanding but it didn’t matter
what they said I felt a waste of time, a mess and impossible to love, they had
been at work all day and I had done nothing.
I slowly slipped away from
living into existing, with ease and without really even knowing it. I
became isolated and stuck in a rut that, if I’m honest, I wasn’t even trying to
get out of as I thought that is what life had to be like, That I had no option
but to ‘suffer’ from chronic pain for the rest of my life.
I was left emptied of hope and filled with pills, left to get on
with it. I was not offered any emotional support and I was never asked my
opinion on anything to do with my treatment.
For 2 years, I had allowed the
pain to rob me of my friends and hobbies, but even worse I became so consumed
by the pain that I had forgotten all about loving my partner. Now I look back I
realise the worst thing was, I missed out on valuable time with the people I
loved and this hit me very hard when I had a death in the family.
I made the choice to change my outlook of my situation, nothing
has changed physically, if anything I am weaker, however I have managed to
combat the thoughts that constantly caused me to doubt my ability I have taken
time to understand and accept myself for the person I am now, not who I used to
be and I have worked on becoming grateful for what I have and that right now
that is all that I need.
I
had been attending a small group monthly that was held by the charity away with
pain. In January 2018 I relaunched these meetings under the heading of
Northamptonshire chronic pain support (NCPS). I had found that just being in a room
with other people who had chronic pain really helped. It is so powerful, to
know you are not alone, not being judged and that your pain is valid.
I
now hold meetings all over Northants, I use my experience of chronic pain and
the experience of others to help people who do not have chronic pain understand
what it is like to live with chronic pain. I support the carers who do a
fantastic but sadly go unnoticed, they need support, and they are affected just
as much by chronic pain as the person who has it. I use my knowledge of both
cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and living in a mindful way to delivered in a
positive way that you can have a life with chronic pain and you do not have to
‘suffer’ from it.
I
hold a monthly meeting in Kettering Corn Market Hall every first Thursday of
the month between 7-9pm. Anyone regardless of diagnosis is welcome to make
contact or indeed someone who supports people with chronic pain. I have also
created a Facebook page which I try to keep this site full of positive and
helpful information about things that help such as equipment, local social
events and also factual information about chronic pain.
For
further information please contact me on ncpsgml@gmail.com
or through the website www.ncpsuk.co.uk.
Do you live with chronic pain? Are you in touch with any groups yourself? Have you found support groups to be useful?
