chronic pain support groups, Oldham/Manchester

dori2o

Does anyone attend or know of a pain support group in Manchester or near to Oldham.

It has been recommended to my by my counsellor as another form of treatment.

I've had most forms of treatment without sucess of being able to better control pain. I'm currently writing this in lots of pain but I want to hold off my Oramorph meds until just before I go to bed so I might get some sleep.

I tried to apply for the Expert Patient Programme, but due to it not being run by the Pennine NHS Trust, but rather by the Rochdale and Heywood Trust, I couldn't get onto it.

Any help appreciated

pmduk

I'm sorry you didn't manage to solve this last time. Did you look at the online version?

Racheldevon

Hi, It's worth seeing if your NHS are running Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses - they're 8 weeks, and often run alongside your local university. There's certainly ones at Bangor (north Wales, Oxford & Exeter) but lots of places run them and they have a strong evidence base for people with chornic pain (I benefited hugely from this for my chronic pain)

Have you seen a consultant within the pain management service? Have you been able to access their groups? Have you been able to access hydrotherapy/appropriate physio/clinical psychology services? Many hospitals also offer acupuncture - nothing was offered to me on a plate I had to really push to get the services, but might be worth exploring if you haven't already.

dori2o

pmduk wrote: »

I'm sorry you didn't manage to solve this last time. Did you look at the online version?

I emailed EPP asking about the online version and was told that I couldn't do it as my NHS trust wasn't involved in the scheme.

Thanks anyway.

dori2o

Racheldevon wrote: »

Hi, It's worth seeing if your NHS are running Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses - they're 8 weeks, and often run alongside your local university. There's certainly ones at Bangor (north Wales, Oxford & Exeter) but lots of places run them and they have a strong evidence base for people with chornic pain (I benefited hugely from this for my chronic pain)
I'll see my GP about that next week. Hopefully it is something he can arrange for me, as well as referring me back to Orthopaedics as my other knee has started to get very panful. Just part and parcel of CRPS I suppose.
Have you seen a consultant within the pain management service? Have you been able to access their groups? Have you been able to access hydrotherapy/appropriate physio/clinical psychology services? Many hospitals also offer acupuncture - nothing was offered to me on a plate I had to really push to get the services, but might be worth exploring if you haven't already.

I've seen a few.

At salford I had access to a physiotherapist and psychologist, but one session I arrived and they said there was nothing else they could do for me.

I'm now being seen by a consultant at Dr Kershaws Hospice in Oldham, but they don't do a full pain management programme.

I've asked for counselling and acupuncture, and whilst I had some very simple acupuncture last year, it did nothing.

My referral for counselling was rejected as I am not a serious case who poses a danger to myself or others. This despite 3 suicide attempts.

pmduk

Perhaps you should start investigating the new CCG that will take over your PCT's responsibilties, I think they're being phase in over time, I know that Salford PCT is being replaced in April , (but have no knowledge about your area. l. Hopefully they may be more amenable to pressure, particularly if your GP will support your case.

Your existing PCT website may have more info about the CCG.