EMAHSN is supporting a Northamptonshire course that is helping local patients to live with chronic pain caused by long term conditions such as osteoarthritis and primary chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

It’s the fourth time the course has been run in the county and feedback from previous courses has included:

“I have been getting the best night's sleep that I have enjoyed for some months.  For this result alone the course has been well worthwhile.”

The course “has made me feel a part of life, rather than a separate category of human, for the pain I get.”

“You have given us great skills and belief to move forward with our lives for the better.” 

“Warms my soul knowing I'm not alone.”

EMAHSN is working with Northamptonshire CCGs Medicines Management Team and, Smart Wellbeing, to evaluate the outcomes over the longer term, to determine if participants on the course require less pain relief medication after they have taken part. The results will help inform service innovation programmes relating to social prescribing and reducing the use of opioids for pain relief.

Giles Owen, Head of Prescribing & Medicines Management at Northamptonshire CCG said: “Some of the pain relief medication that patients find themselves taking can cause side effects and over reliance on medication. There are many other strategies and ways of managing pain that people can use and the course aims to show patients these techniques and give them support to practice the approaches.

“Importantly, the course also gives people the opportunity to ask questions of the clinical leads and of other participants and to share their experiences and how they feel. This peer support and knowing that they are not alone is one of the key benefits patients report from the course, but we also want to know if attendees subsequently use less medication as they have other techniques to help manage their pain.”

The course started off as face to face sessions but has moved online, with participants able to access recordings of the sessions if they cannot make a live meeting. There are 6 sessions in total and content has been tailored to meet feedback from participants – for example, there is now a fuller section on improving sleep, as that was highlighted as something people wanted more on.

Dr Mike Scanlan, from Smart Wellbeing, who delivers the course said: “It’s important to point out that the course is not going to take the pain away completely but it will help people to manage and live their lives with the pain – participants have told us they have been able to sleep better and ‘take part in life’ more since taking part.

“By helping people feel more in control of their pain, we help take away the anxiety they may have about attending, for example, family occasions or social events, which means they are able to enjoy life a bit more, doing the things that are valuable to them.

“The course gives patients time to be listened to and learn more about different techniques for pain management.

“After leaving the 6 week course, patients can continue to be supported via their GP practice and their local social prescribing lead to help them to find activities and support locally. This can also help to reduce any feelings of isolation or anxiety and help people to reconnect with their community, friends and family.”

The current course will end in May and evaluation will take place subsequently. The next intake is planned for the summer.

EMAHSN Medical Director, Gail Allsopp said: “We are delighted to be able to support the course with funding and practical assistance. The recently published national NICE guideline on chronic pain encourages less use of medication, especially for primary chronic pain. There has never been a better time to look for alternative ways to manage chronic pain, and reduce reliance, where appropriate, on pain killers, which may not always be of benefit.”