Report on Attendance at Pain Management Programme –Spring 2011
The Pain Management Programme has seen a regular group of 12 participants meeting for an education programme on understanding and managing chronic pain. The group members have had a variety of conditions but with a common problem of managing their pain.
The sessions, led by Scottish Pain Association tutor Phil Sizer have covered topics such as understanding what chronic pain is, pacing, relaxation, flare up management, sleep hygiene, stress management and dealing with negative thoughts and feelings.
All the sessions have been very informative and clearly led and explained by Phil. While led in quite a structured way from the front, the sessions have been informal and non threatening allowing participants to be involved in discussions, ask questions and share experiences.
While acknowledging the problems, the discussions have been steered away from focusing on the negatives, encouraging solution finding. Phil’s skill as a group facilitator has enabled the group members to open up to each other and to enjoy each others company.
They have commented how good it has been to find other people who understand their problems and have found support and encouragement from this.
It has been interesting and encouraging to see and hear the change in the participants understanding of the issues covered and particularly the changes they have made to their day to day lives. This has also been shown in the change in validated outcome measures which were used at the start and end first training block.
I have enjoyed attending these sessions and have particularly benefited from seeing Phil’s approach to dealing with this type of client group. The selection of people for this group has on the whole been appropriate and the results so far have been very positive.
Hopefully the maintenance sessions will continue to provide the support and encouragement to enable these people to continue to make positive changes, to cope more effectively with their problems and improve their quality of life.
