Pain management
is pain management just all the mental health side now? After having pain conditions for a lot of years , most I’ve dealt with alone for years , I’ve finally got an appointment for pain management . I got a letter saying this will be an hours phone call with a psych therapist and info in the letter contained questionnaires for me to fill in about my mh . I was hoping …silly me … that it would be more a case of them been bothered by the physical causes . I do know mh IS involved when you do have chronic pain but I don’t know, I don’t want to find this is all going to turn out where they blame everything you have complained about on mh when you clearly have physical changes ie. Arthritis in your hands and fingers for example I’m not imagining what my hands look like lol . Anyone else doing pain management ? I’ve waited about a year for this appointment I don’t know what to think .
Comments
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I don't have any information for you, but I'd like to follow your thread for information from knowledgeable posters.
We are seeking a referral to pain management for one of my brothers, and I'd like to know more about the content in advance.
Good luck x
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Now I don't know for sure what people are being offered with pain management/pain clinics currently. I have both joint & neuropathic pain & needing to find out more, I researched, both reading medical papers & attending 'virtual' webinars in the past few years; it's about finding ways to 'manage' your pain.
To me the mind & body are inextricably linked from my own experience - I 'only' have physical pain (like what you've mentioned 'arthritis' in virtually all my joints), but, again firstly just my personal opinion, any stress can increase the pain I feel overall. This appears to be borne out from what I've learnt in the past few years looking at chronic pain. I've previously been offered 'just' CBT, but never wanted to try it, but that's just me.
I sort of come from, well pain's physical, as I'm a long-retired physio. However, now doing the exercises I used to teach (!) hasn't enabled me to completely conquer the pain; it's a combination of things I've found often work the best, which has been held up by what I've learnt. Both mind & body matter, so a holistic approach can work very well.
Altho I'd run a mile (if I could) from CBT, it does help some people. Surprisingly what I find helps me the most is 'diaphragmatic breathing' which can reduce both pain & stress.
If you haven't seen the following before @Dendoo - you may find it helpful. Perhaps try the 'deep breathing exercise' link, which is diaphragmatic breathing. As we're all individuals, it's finding that set of things that help you however. Please see:
I've also been using CBD oil for nearly 6 years; it does help with my joint pain, but unfortunately not my neuropathic pain, which is the worst of the 2.
It would be great, if you don't mind, if you'd let us all know how you get on with your pain management appointment.
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At my appointment we discussed pain relief, which I don't usually take due to it affecting my IBS and other ways of managing pain such as heat, gentle exercises etc.
The lady gave mesome really good advice as to what extra vitamins I should be having (Magnesium and Vitamin D), which has helped.
She also referred me for hydrotherapy which I did attend, but they cancelled the second appointment and didn't get back in touch. I eventually chased it up and went again but they said they would call about an appointment, but again, never did. Then Covid came along.
I'm hoping to start going swimming regularly soon, hoping that will help.3 -
I agree with @onlymeagain that rhythmical exercises such as walking or swimming are very beneficial. I really, really, enjoyed being in a warm hydrotherapy pool giving exercises to young children many years ago as it made me feel better too!
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Hi thank you for the reply . I’m a long timer with pain issues . I’ve done the cbt even recently . While I think it’s made my mind calmer my calmer mind doesn’t stop the physical pain from just living like everyone else I’m used to it . Of course it can get me down at times but I plod on . I just don’t know how to get this across that I’m
not down and having pain through feeling down . I have a long story I just feel like I’m
Going to end up on the hamster wheel yet again . I too have tried all kinds over the years and stopped even going to the Drs frustrated until about 18 month ago makes you feel ashamed that your asking for help because you have long term pain . I can’t even explain it . Like another poster I’m not on any prescribed meds I’m very sensitive to medications and use what I’ve found best for me over the years . I’ve all manner of ‘ things’ ie heat pads compression gloves creams and gels you know the drill . I guess I will just have to wait until the phone appnt comes and see what happens . X
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hi I’ve done a 6 week cbt course that was for people with long term pain conditions it was a very small group . By time I asked for the help I was grateful for it as I couldn’t cope with it I’d run out of helping myself . Tbh it was stuff I’ve learnt myself over the years but it was refreshing what I had learnt myself and it was peace I wasn’t alone with pain and feelings and it was an outlet . Following that I done a 3 session cbt course to see if I was suitable to do the 12 week online one . I’ve just completed that a few months ago . Thing is with cbt you have to continue it and make it a daily occurrence. It is helpful and you don’t need to spend hours doing it . There’s lots of short mindfulness videos from 3 mins plus but of course we’re all human and I like everyone else let things lapse . However I do try to remind myself to ‘ ground’ whenever I can . I struggled with cbt at first it was a lot to take in but it’s learning to ground yourself and learning to not dwell on things . I know there’s more involved but just to make things brief . I did have an issue with the 12 week one only because the questionnaire which we had to do before each session but the course wasn’t really for those with pain specifically . I had to fill it in as if I never had pain issues that were affecting my mood it was hard putting ‘ pain/exhaustion’ aside and try to answer truly where as the 6 week one we got asked how pain was affecting us so the scoring was different . Of course when I filled the you have to fill this one in as if you have NO PAIN my scores were a lot less for mood but that was because I had to pretend what was bothering me wasn’t 🤷♀️ . Give a short cbt course a try see if it’s really for you or not you can do them online as well . X sorry if this reply confuses you lol
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