Pathway through Pain Avis 

Made me open my eyes regarding chronic back pain

Helping me with my pain

I wasn’t really sure of the point of this . I have arthritis is my neck and spine and unable to sit and meditate. Stretching exercises I don’t feel did much of anything although I do feel I have a better understanding of some aspects of pain

I found the mediation sessions helpful and the exercises useful. I think its also great that everything is then stored in your library for a later date that you can go back to even once the course is finished.

It helped to positively reinforce my experiences of pain. Such as the advice - not to feel guilty when accepting help. Most of the reflection/meditation components were helpful as were the stretching exercises.

All the topics covered were extremely helpful and explained well

The team's support, encouragement, and videos focusing on a positive ways to manage pain. Putting in place alternative ways to help with pain.
I am now following the techniques given on this course.

I was impressed by the professional approach and production of this online course. It was very helpful and interesting.

Exploring different ways to cope with sever pain help did help and some methods/idea did help, how ever did feel that its a way of coping with pain and to know its not a cure.

I have completed the course although there were not many things that I haven’t already exercised.
Also, most questions were about joint pain therefore I couldn’t answer them as it was not relevant therefore the results of my questionnaire was insufficient. The reason for being referred to complete the course was abdominal pain.

Some parts are useful but generally I found it unhelpful. I was already doing much of what they advise and unless you actually have a good treatment plan to manage pain in the first place, Many people would struggle with setting an unmoving daily routine.

First thing it is not a cure but all the techniques you use definitely help. I have been on a month residential course that really helped mentally but that was 17 years ago. This course seemed to handle every day life, the things I would say to myself, in fact down to exact words and just by changing the phase it doesn’t have the same impact of consuming my energy and letting pain take over.
I use the meditation a lot as it definitely works and I use the stretching exercises which help me to be able to move around first thing in the morning.
I also set very small jobs so I can achieve them , which helps with pacing and I feel that I have purpose which definitely helps with pain and mood
I haven’t managed to get off my medication, but I have cut it down and now if I have a big flare up I can up my medication if needed with out going on Morphine
I would definitely definitely recommend this course has you come away feeling better about your self but it teaches you that you can manage pain and it doesn’t have to take over your life. I don’t go out on my own because of having black outs but by owning up to friends about my condition I go out with them and have coffee which is brilliant for my confidence.

Very well explained
Easy to follow
Made you feel at ease.

As you become older you become more skeptical of things, seeing some as fads or not really treatment, with having completed the course I now get the heal the mind the body will follow and learning to control pain and not boom and bust all work. the only person that controls the level is you yourself given the tools to assist and medication revues regularly help you keep on top of the problem. Also remember to ask all the questions its your body and the staff and team only to happy to help on your pathway through Pain. Thank you!

I was asked to complete this course as a precursor to an initial appointment with the NHS Pain Management service. As I have been on the waiting list for more than a year, and had been feeling desperate during this time, I had already implemented the very basic techniques that are shared within the program, all of which are not beyond common sense.

These techniques include various ways to relax and some advice on taking pain medication - but only as and when one feels it to be beneficial(!). These strategies seemed to be shared with an undertone of, 'Just do things despite the pain', which, as anyone with severe chronic pain will know, is just not possible as this causes exhaustion and is detrimental to overall wellbeing and functionality.

The techniques did not help me live a more functional life, did not help me manage pain better while at work, and did not reduce my pain in any way.

I can see from their responses to other comments that the program company has purposefully pitched the program low as they cannot cater for all and that some people, perhaps, were wrongly referred to this course. However, the company still has a duty of care to those who are suffering and should not rely on referrals from medical staff who may not be familiar with the content. The company should implement their own screening system before allowing people to endure hours of unhelpful and incredibly basic information, particularly as the program message is broadly 'Chill out and get on with it'.

Made me feel better about the pain find it hard to meditate but the rest very helpful

Really clear and easy to follow. Lots of useful information, the meditations and particular good for relaxation. Highly recommend if you’re suffering with chronic pain.

The course was very helpful and I will implement some of the ideas going forward because any advice in to helping combat pain is better than non helpful advice at all

Great experience of being treat as an individual with my own experience of pain and how it's affecting me.
Resources are excellent and will be well used. Finally the whole experience has led me to question my current medication with my GP with a view to a reduction for now in my dosage.
Thank you all at Pathway Through Pain
Eddie

I found it patronising at the start and it would of been good to be given something useful instead of being talked at for 6 sessions. It put me off to the point I was unsure why I was doing it. Everything useful was so much further on by the time you get to it. You’ve switched off.