We are an interdisciplinary team. This means the team is made up of different professionals who work jointly to make sure that our expertise comes together to meet your needs.

Why see a psychologist when you have persistent pain?

The role of the psychologists is to work with you to reduce psychological distress and promote psychological well-being. Psychologists work with people with emotional and physical health problems.

You probably already know that being in pain does not just affect you physically, but can make you feel stressed, frustrated, anxious and down. Many people find that pain makes family and social relationships strained.

However, you do not need to be feeling stressed or low to get something out of psychology. A psychological approach might involve looking at the ways you cope with pain and finding ways to improve them.

Whatever the nature or cause of your pain, speaking to a psychologist can help you to find ways of coping with these problems and so can mean you feel less distressed about pain.

Why see an occupational therapist when you have persistent pain?

Occupational therapists focus on what people ‘do’; on the activities that can occupy us. That might include getting washed and dressed, hobbies, doing housework, social activities, work and so on.

Occupational therapists help you to deal with the issues that get in the way of you being able to do what is important to you. This might include activities that allow you to care of yourself and your family, and activities that give you satisfaction, enjoyment and a sense of purpose.

Why see a physiotherapist when you have persistent pain?

Some people tell us they have seen a physiotherapist in the past, which did not help as it was too painful or difficult. Physiotherapy within the persistent pain service is different from general outpatient physiotherapy; the approach is less ‘hands on’ and more focused on helping you gradually and gently build up your strength, mobility and fitness, without causing flare-ups in pain.

Our physiotherapists use a variety of ways to help you get moving confidently and to exercise effectively and independently in everyday life.   Physiotherapists working in the pain team will work with you to make sure you have a clear understanding of how your body works and of how pain and movement relate to each other. Keeping physically active is essential to keep your muscles and joints healthy, which has a positive impact on pain in the long term.

Why see our medical team (a nurse specialist or pain consultant) when you have persistent pain?

Our medical team (nurse specialists and pain consultants) work with you to identify what is causing your pain and to provide a diagnosis, although it is important to bear in mind that this is not always possible. Our aim is that you feel confident you have as clear an understanding as possible of the factors involved in your pain, so feel free to discuss any queries or concerns with us.