Multidisciplinary Pain Service

Some patients will be offered individual physiotherapy as part of their treatment plan. Physiotherapy aims to improve the patient’s functional abilities which may have suffered as the result of living with chronic pain. Physiotherapy may take many forms but will often include an exercise programme designed to re-enable patients and improve their coping strategies.

Some patients will be offered individual psychology therapy as part of their treatment plan. Psychological therapy aims to help patients cope with the impact of having chronic pain and minimise the distress this can cause whilst helping patients gain a sense of agency in their condition. In most cases, therapy aims to help people work out how to live their life as normally and in the most fulfilling way possible, despite the pain.

Back in Action is a functional restoration programme for people with longstanding back pain. It includes exercise and education for patients who want to become more active despite their pain and get better at performing daily activities which have become difficult.

The aim of the course is to help increase fitness and education on how to effectively self-manage back pain. It is designed for those patients with pain who are deemed suitable by the multidisciplinary team to engage with a higher level of physical functioning.

The course is run in leisure facilities within the community. There are 6 sessions over 6 weeks which involves gym exercise with discussion groups and educational talks, including outside speakers from Clinical Psychology. Patients are strongly encouraged to partake in all sessions to maximise the potential benefits of attending the group.

What is a Pain Management Programme?

A pain management programme is designed to help patients cope with their pain through education, activity and support. Research shows that people with long-term pain can lead fulfilling lives. The programme aims to help people understand their pain better and to achieve their goals.

The South Warwickshire Pain Management Programme is held once a week over eight weeks. Patients are expected to commit to all sessions as this will ensure they get the most out of this treatment.

Group information

• Held at Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU), Leamington Spa
• 8 consecutive weekly sessions
• There will be 8-12 others who also suffer with long term pain in the group.
• Sessions last around 2 ½ hours and will be broken up with breaks.

Who runs the programme?

The program is run by Physiotherapists and Clinical Psychologists who specialise in pain management.

Is this approach for me?

The course is recommended for people with long term pain who need help to self-manage. The course is not suitable for people looking for a medical ‘cure’. The course will improve fitness levels and help patients understand how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors impact upon pain.

What to expect from the programme?

The course includes education sessions on:

• Understanding the causes of pain
• Performing exercise and activity when in pain
• Stress management
• Achieving future goals when in pain
• Sleep

Each session begins with expert led discussions and activities. There will be gentle exercise tailored to each patients' ability and sessions on how to relax the mind and body.

Useful resources:

• Guidelines for Pain Management

A range of pain relieving interventions are available through the Service. Spinal injections for low back pain will only be available in cases where they will assist engagement and participation in a programme leading to long-term self-management of chronic pain. Spinal injections for low back pain are not available as stand-alone procedures.

The consultant will consider what medication you are taking and whether any adaptations to this would be beneficial. Any changes to your prescription will be handed over to your General Practitioner who will then be responsible for implementing them and monitoring for any side effects. It is helpful if you bring your most current prescription with you.

The role of the Consultant Anaesthetist is to assess whether your pain problem requires any further medical investigations such as blood tests, scans or x-rays. The Consultant will also consider your suitability for treatments such as injections, epidurals, surgery, physiotherapy, acupuncture or changes to medication.

The role of the Physiotherapist within clinic will be to physically examine the problematic area and spend time explaining their findings to you. The physiotherapist will also consider suitability for physiotherapy treatments.

The role of the Team Secretary is to provide clerical support for the multidisciplinary team, answer queries and provide a point of contact for patients and referrers.