The Pain Toolkit
Short booklet on managing pain. Good starting point. Free to download from this fantastic website: www.paintoolkit.org.
Also available for download in a new app for your mobile phone or tablet.
The Pain Clinic
Part of our local pain service. Specialist doctors and nurses assess long term pain and help with medication and sometimes other medical procedures.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk – Management options for pain
Pain Self-Management Service
Part of our local pain service. Based in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Forest of Dean and Hereford. Helping people to live well with pain.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk – Pain management service
Pain Management Plan
Great practical book about living with long term pain. Buy it from Amazon or the publisher’s site. Also available from the pain self-management service where you can work through it with support from a clinician.
Website: www.pain-management-plan.co.uk
Mindfulness
Meditation exercises to help with stress and pain. Courses available through Pain Self-Management and Let’s Talk.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk – Introduction to mindfulness for persistent pain
Living with Pain
Self-management CD. Listen online, buy the CD or download for free. Includes guided relaxation session designed for people with persistent pain.
Website: www.paincd.org.uk
Pain Concern
A UK based charity to help people with persistent pain.
Wonderful online radio programme about pain “Airing Pain”: www.ableradio.com.
Phone: 0300 123 0789
Pain Matters website: www.painconcern.org.uk
Let’s Talk
Local courses and one-to-one help for depression, anxiety, insomnia etc. 6-week Manage Fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue course. Refer yourself online or by phone.
Phone: 0800 0732200
Website: www.talk2gether.nhs.uk
Gloucestershire Physiotherapy Healthy Living
Links to all the services in your local area to help you get more active, even if you are limited by pain and fatigue.
You can self-refer for physiotherapy online.
Website: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/physio/health
Adult Helpdesk
For Occupational Therapy, Housing/Social Work enquiries. You can refer yourself.
Phone: 01452 426868
Website: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adults
Citizens Advice Bureau
Provides free confidential advice on benefits, legal matters, money and other problems.
Phone: 01452 527202
Website: www.gloucestercab.org.uk or www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Art Lift
Your healthcare professional can refer you to free, friendly community art classes where you can discover a new interest, be creative and meet other people. You do not need to be good at art! Classes all around the county.
Phone: 03000 200 102
Website: www.artlift.org
Samaritans
Confidential listening service. Available to take calls 24/7 but you can also visit the local branch or write an email.
Phone: 116 123
Website: www.samaritans.org
My Live Well with Pain
Offers useful information and resources on living well with persistent pain.
Website: my.livewellwithpain.co.uk