Pain Management Therapy Team
OVERVIEW:
We are a team consisting of an Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist who are specialised in Persistent Pain, assisted by a Pain Management Therapy Assistant.
We offer Pain Management and Lifestyle Group education sessions on different aspects of pain management; these may be delivered by one or multiple members of the team. There may also be a need for some individual therapy sessions which will be determined by specific needs.
Treatment sessions will be offered face to face at Leigh Health Centre (1st Floor) and Boston Health Centre Wigan.
Your specialist nurse, doctor or other health professional will have discussed with you a long term plan for managing your persistent pain. This involves you learning more in depth about your pain, how other daily life activities can trigger your pain perceptions and providing you with a ‘tool kit’ of skills to better manage your pain now and in the future.
What can you expect from the Pain Management Therapy Team?
The therapists utilise evidence based practice to provide you with the most up-to-date information and treatment for you to be able to decide which strategies/skills or techniques work for you the best. They communicate regularly as a team to ensure your treatment/input is timely and safe.
Occupational Therapy
The Pain Management Specialist Occupational Therapist provides and offers support with learning diaphragmatic breathing, body awareness and mindfulness techniques as tools to help you with managing your persistent pain more effectively.
The Occupational Therapist will also work with you to problem solve functional difficulties you may have with your personal care, sleep hygiene or activities of daily living that have value and meaning to you. We may advise on adapted techniques or small aids to help you accommodate any restrictions you may have.
Activity analysis, goal setting, pacing, prioritising and planning are other skills the Occupational Therapist can support you in learning to help you gain that sense of control over your pain condition.
They also work closely with the other team members to help you continue the roles in your life that are important to you.
Physiotherapy
The Pain Management Specialist Physiotherapist will work with you to help understand why you are in pain and what you can do about it. The Physiotherapist will help you to gain control over your pain and be as independent as possible. This will involve pain education, goal setting, talking therapy strategies and exercises.
Following your assessment, the Physiotherapist will guide you through a suitable exercise programme that is personal to you. You will be educated on the benefits of exercise in managing persistent pain and the other benefits it has on your health and wellbeing.
There is a whole team approach to support you in managing your persistent pain. You might see the Physiotherapist independently, jointly with the Occupational Therapist or as part of the Pain Management and Lifestyle Group sessions. Everybody is different therefore it is important to find the treatment option that suits you best.
Pain Management and Lifestyle Group
The Pain Management and Lifestyle Group is an interactive course currently delivered at Leigh Sports Village (1st Floor - Studio3). It is delivered by the Pain Management Therapy Team for 2 and a half hours per week over 10 weeks. There are usually between 10-15 attendees with a variety of persistent pain conditions. The group environment provides an opportunity to share experiences and learn from other people who have persistent pain.
The group aims to help patients understand more about their pain condition and the factors which influence it. It is an opportunity to learn new skills to be able to manage pain more effectively, gain a sense of control over the pain, enhance mood and improve productivity and activity levels through self-management strategies.
Key themes of the programme are:
- Understanding pain
- Introduction to relaxation & mindfulness techniques
- Exercise and persistent pain
- Sleep hygiene
- Nutrition
- Pacing techniques
- SMART goal setting
- Activity management & adaptation of daily living tasks
- Managing setbacks
Patients are encouraged to bring a drink of water, pillows, move around, stretch, change position and bring anything required to make the group experience as comfortable as possible. Loose fitting clothing and supportive footwear or trainers are essential for the exercise component of the group. The exercise element is graded and will be tailored to your needs.
What does the group expect from you?
You must commit to all sessions of the group to gain maximum benefit from the sessions. You will be expected and encouraged to practice the skills learnt each week during the time between each session.
Patients who have accepted there are no further medical or surgical options to manage their pain will respond well to the Pain Management and Lifestyle Group sessions.