Pain Management Programmes

Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone out there can offer any advice or insight regarding Pain Management Programmes. I have been given a place on one, and the longer it’s going on, the more I seem to think it’s turning into something that is just trying to prove that the participants are well enough to work. For the first day, it was very easy going, but gradually they are introducing more stretches, exercises and now even asking us to go for a walk round the block and take yoga classes. I’m incapable of walking anywhere, and so refused, but they are really being forceful. I’m so tempted to not go back, but then will other doctors refuse any help in the future if I haven’t taken full advantage of this course?

I guess I’m being sceptical...but does anyone else have any experience of going on one of these courses and then being deemed fit and healthy?

Many thanks in anticipation.

I take it that this is via the NHS and nothing to do with DWP? If so, my sister attended an 8 week course via the pain clinic. It was more about counselling and certainly involved no exercise. She attended the full 8 weeks as she found it beneficial to talk to people who, like her, live with chronic pain day in day out. A few people dropped out and the two people running it did not seem surprised. I think this happens quite often. It did include relaxation lessons and breathing techniques. .

I’m sure you’re perfectly within your rights to refuse anything that is painful for you and can’t see how any doctor could hold it against you if you feel that the course is not for you.

Hello Mabel2015, yes it’s an NHS run thing. At first it was just a gentle stretch out of neck, shoulders etc. But they introduce more every time and it’s really tough for me. Everyone else there seems to have had back injuries, so maybe for them the physical side is more suited to them so they can keep up. I don’t know, but I’m struggling and I hate it because I really can’t keep up and feel foolish and even more useless that I usually do!

As it’s the NHS running this I’m sure there wouldnt be a problem if you drop out. Or at the very least do as much as you are able. At the end of the day it is meant to help you.

Hi Mabel2015,

Yes it's definitely NHS, I was on the exact same course, I developed a illness and could not finish it. It will not do you any harm at all not to finish it.
I would suggest you try and finish it, even if you can't do some of the things they ask you to try.
They are there to help you and no other reason. I you can't do something then just say. They won't mind, but may try and coax you, Its beneficial.
If you still decide you can't do it then, they will understand.
I know how hard it must be for you, even if you gain one thing positive in the whole process, then that's good enough. What have you got to loose?

Beat of luck on your journey

P

HI to all,

I've been offered a place on an NHS pain management course. Which upon my consultation I was told it could go on for 6 to 12 months. I have already written and posted a topic about this a few weeks back.

Well I've had to cancel my appointments due to being bed ridden as a result of my degenerative disk disease and widespread bodily pain. So when I finally got to see the person again, for another consultation, the pain management person seemed only interested in getting me to sign up.

I was basically begging him if I sign up will you get someone to give me injections in my lumbar and cervical spine. as this was the only way of getting some pain relief.

The pain management personal who incidentally wasn't a pain specialist like my usual specialist at my local hospital, he was a physiotherapist, you couldn't make it up.

The physio bloke wouldn't answer my questions as in regards to getting injections. neither pain blocks.

the physio bloke left me feeling uncomfortable and intimidated, as he kept badgering me to sign up to the course.

he kept hitting me with things this is the wheel of life, this is where you are, this is where you ought to be.

I found this more of a job interview, rather than helping a person like myself who has suffered 30 years plus in chronic pain.

incidentally surgeons wont operate on my neck, too risky the surgeon said. we don't fuse them these days. try changing you life sty. surgeon said maybe pain management is a solution for you.

I found that very annoying after begging the surgeon to operate on me and at my own risk. he blatantly refused.

my point is... I'm in too minds not to go through this pain management course. as I don't see talking to strangers about my health is going to give me any pain relief at all.

also this seems a difficult option as I have serious issues with mixing with others, it would cause me great anxiety stress, and amplify my fibromyalgia, hence causing me more physical and mental pain.

its a difficult decision to make. but I'm not sure if its going to be beneficial doing breathing techniques when I'm in bits. more so being told pain is all in the head.

its a choice do the course.. dwp may see this as your fit for work.

don't do the course then its found or seems you refused treatments, therefor fit for work.

or go on course, let them see how ill I am, then knock it on the head. then from my perspective I can tell the dwp I could complete it, due to it was causing me to become more ill than usual.

its a do and be damned or don't do and be damned.

I appreciate and respect others who have done the NHS pain management course. But I'm really sceptical, especially reading the post about the exercises, then more longer exercises, then walking.

you cannot reverse degenerative disk disease, and my experience over 30 odd years of suffering in pain has told me that exercises etc does not give me relief of pain period. I can only manage my pain, through injections, morphine other pain killers, and basically doing next to nothing. because as soon as I'm getting active, I end up getting bed ridden for a week, due to the electric shocks in the spine.