Pain management patient information

Is the Pain Management Service right for me?

We support adults who experience chronic pain, which is pain that continues beyond normal healing time. This may include conditions like:

• Persistent back or neck pain
• Widespread pain
• Osteoarthritis or joint pain
• Pain following injury or surgery (once healed)
• Nerve-related pain (e.g. sciatica, neuropathy)

You do not need a specific diagnosis to access our service. We welcome people at all stages of their pain journey, whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with pain for years. You should be open to trying new ways of understanding and coping with pain

If you have been living with pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks and it’s affecting your day-to-day life our service may be able to help. Perhaps you

• had medical investigations and tried different treatments which haven’t really helped and you still feel stuck?
• pain is affecting your sleep, mood, movement or confidence?
• have pain which is stopping you from living life the way you would like to?
• want to explore self-management strategies ?
• would like to reduce or stop taking pain medication?

This service may not be right for you if:

• You are seeking a diagnosis
• You have a condition requiring urgent or surgical intervention
• You’re seeking diagnostic investigations or medical treatments not related to persistent pain
• You’re currently under the care of another specialist pain service 
• You are under the care of mental health services, please could we ask that you complete this treatment before attending. If you have any questions, please discuss with your mental health provider.
• Our specific clinical referral criteria can be found below.

If you’re unsure whether our service is the right place, speak to your GP who can advise or help signpost you to the most appropriate support.

To access our service, you’ll need a referral from a healthcare professional — usually your:

• GP (General Practitioner)
• First Contact Practitioner
• Hospital consultant
• Specialist nurse
• Physiotherapist
• Please let your referrer, or us, know if you are eligible for prioritisation under the UK’s Armed Forces Covenant.

What to expect if you come and see us / What happens next?

Once we receive and triage your referral, you’ll be added to our waiting list and invited to attend an Introduction to Pain Management session .Confirmation of your appointment will be sent digitally if you have a mobile phone. If you do not, the appointment will be sent by post. If you have any queries about your appointment, please contact the Bookings Team on 0161 419 4010.

Introduction to the Management of Pain Session,  IMPS.

All patients are invited to IMPS as the first step in the journey with the Stepping Hill Pain Service. 

The Introduction to the Management of Pain Session is a friendly, one-off, online, group session designed to 

• Introduce the Pain Management Service to you.
• Help you understand what to expect from our service
• Give initial advice on how to manage your pain.
• Present an opportunity to ask questions.
• Provide information on how to opt in or out of future 1:1 appointments with the Pain Service.
• Help you create personalised goals for your care.

How does it work

• A one hour group session although no group interaction is required.
• This is not a 1:1 appointment.
• You will not be asked to share any personal information.
• Run by our Occupational Therapist or Specialist Nurse
• It is held online via Attend anywhere – You’ll receive clear instructions on how to join, and we’re happy to help if you’re unsure about the technology. (For help with Attend Anywhere Online appointments click here; How to Use Attend Anywhere)
• There’s no pressure to speak — you’re welcome to just listen in. 
• You do not need to keep your camera on during the call.

(IMPS Flyer pdf) – insert here

First appointment

This individual appointment will be an in-depth discussion about your clinical needs and wellbeing. Together we will create a plan of care which will be personalised to your specific needs and goals. Ahead of your first appointment it can be really good to develop a plan in your mind of your goals for care, these forms (see PDFs x 2 on this page Self-Management Navigator Tool – Pain ConcernPain Concern)  can be a useful tool to use while doing this.

Preparing for your first appointment:

• Your appointment will usually take place at Stepping Hill Hospital or Kingsgate House in Stockport between 8:45am to 5:30pm unless otherwise specified. 
• It will be with one of our clinicians and will last around 30 and 50 minutes. 
• Please bring along a list of your current medications. 
• You can bring someone with you if this makes you more comfortable. 
• If you require a translator then this should have been booked for you automatically and will be on your confirmation text/letter. If you are concerned that this has been missed or need any other assistance to make your appointment more comfortable, then please call the Bookings Team on 0161 419 4010 to discuss. 

Appointment Frequently Asked Questions (link to FAQ).

Continued care with the pain management service

At your first appointment you and your clinician will develop a plan of care tailored to you, your health needs and your goals. This will vary for each person but could include any of the following or more; 

• physiotherapy classes 
• medication management, 
• medical interventions
• 1:1 Psychological Pain support 
• Specialist physiotherapy
• Specialist nurse appointments
• Speciality Occupation Therapy
• A Group Pain Management Programme (link to PMP page)
• An online Pain Management Programme

Discharge

Being discharged from our service doesn’t mean you’re on your own, discharge means you don’t need ongoing specialist support right now. It does not mean your pain is gone, but it does mean you’re better equipped to handle it.  

You’ve either completed a programme, reached your personal goals, or made enough progress to manage your pain day to day. Alternatively, now might not be the right time for you to engage with us, such as if you cannot commit to attending appointments, or you have other priorities, or you don’t feel ready to undertake a self-management approach.

Many of our patients are discharged on a PIFU a ‘Patient Initiated Follow-Up’. These are typically for 3 or 6 months and within that period, if you have any further concerns about the condition for which you referred (i.e. not a new problem) then you can call back up and arrange an appointment to discuss. After the allotted time, if we have not heard from you, you will be formally discharged and a summary letter sent out to you and your GP.

Although you won’t have regular appointments, there are still resources and options to support you:

• Your GP will remain your main point of contact for ongoing care
• Visit our Resources page — for pacing tools, relaxation guides, and pain management strategies
• Continue to use the exercises and techniques learned during your programme or consider a self-referral to the PARiS (Physical Activity Referral in Stockport) scheme for continued support with exercise Exercise Referral | Life Leisure
• Attend the Stockport Pain Café (can you include to this poster please – I have emailed across the PDF)
• Find out about what other community services may be available. Speak with a social prescriber (Social Prescribing Referral – Viaduct Care) or look at the Live Well Directory Stockport Live Well – Stockport Council and the Healthy Stockport Welcome to Healthy Stockport websites for more information about what’s happening locally.

Can I come back in the future? 

If your situation changes and you feel you need further support, please discuss this with your GP or referrer. We may be able to see you again, or signpost you to the most appropriate service. 

The Pain Management Programme

Some patients may be eligible for our Pain Management Programme (PMP). This is a structured course led by a pain specialist Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Consultant and Nurse. We also invite external speakers to offer advice. It is not about curing pain, but about learning practical tools and strategies to reduce the impact pain has on your day-to-day life. It brings people together who are living with similar challenges, in a supportive, non-judgemental space.

The PMP is delivered in two formats, online and in Person.

In Person

Handouts will be given to help you remember but we strongly suggest you make your own notes as well.

You can access our PMP website. Some pages are password protected, passwords will be provided upon attendance on the course.

PMP participants testimonials

Thank you. Paul – you explain things really well – Gold star.

Adam – your positivity is brilliant.

I would give the course 10 out of 10, from the presentation to the discussions to the patient participation.

I am really glad I have done this course as it has let me understand that people are feeling similar.

I really enjoyed the course and all staff were brilliant, very understanding, patient and informative.

Paul, Adam and Kevin complement the course perfectly. They addressed any concerns that arose and offered further help. They listened and gave time and space to each individual.

Online

How does it work?

This PMP covers the same topics as the Face to Face version but without the peer-support group aspect, and in person exercise support.

• There are two options with our online electronic Patient Management Programme
  • Guided – There are 5 modules to work through. Each module starts with a 30 minute 1:1 phone call discussion with a clinician. You will then have 2 weeks (typically) to work through the module at your own pace before the next phone call and an introduction to the following module.
  • Self-guided – This route does not include clinician phone calls, instead you are given 3/12 to work through program at your own pace. A three month grace period follows called a PIFU (Patient Initiated Follow-Up) where you can contact us for an appointment if you have any questions or concerns. After this three month period you will typically be discharged back to your GP. 

These options work well for people 

• Who would struggle to commit to the Face to Face version of the PMP due to travelling, childcare or work commitments,
• People who get anxious in group sessions
• Who need greater flexibility as the sessions can be accessed from anywhere so long as you have an internet enabled device.

Throughout the course you will be given access to the Stockport PMP website which will remain active after you have completed the course allowing you to revisit information as and when you feel appropriate.

Find out more

• https://www.stockportpmp.com

PMP Participant leaflet Layout 1 (261kB pdf)

While I am waiting

Current Waiting Times

Our current average waiting time (taken from www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk) is below. 

Pain Management – Waiting Time

• The waiting time information provided is updated each week.
• The average waiting time for first outpatient appointment is the average waiting time for your first appointment with a clinician having been referred by your GP. This may be face to face, online or by telephone.
• The average waiting time for treatment is the average waiting time for treatment which may include a procedure or treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Average waiting time is the average (mean) of all patients waiting within the specialty.
• Some patients will wait less time than the average and some patients will wait longer than the average waiting time.
• Patients are being managed based on clinical urgency and therefore waiting times can vary depending on each patient’s clinical condition.

We understand that waiting for support can feel frustrating, especially when you are living with ongoing pain. While you’re waiting for your appointment with us, there are some small but meaningful things you can start doing right now to help yourself feel more informed and in control.

• Learn more about Chronic Pain (link to resources page)
• Attend the Stockport Pain Café (link to poster)
• Keep a Pain and Activity Diary with a Fatigue activity chart
• Prepare for your first appointment with this goal setting questionnaire (link to pain concern questionnaire; https://painconcern.org.uk/product/self-management-navigator-tool/)
• Be kind to yourself. Waiting is hard, please know that you are not alone and support is coming. Try to pace your activities (break things into smaller chunks) and allow time for rest.

If things feel overwhelming while you wait, it’s okay to ask for help. You could contact:

• For peer support; The Stockport Pain Café – a volunteer run peer support group for anyone with Chronic pain. It meets every 2 weeks in Cheadle Hulme. Link to poster here
• NHS Stockport Talking Therapies can help to manage the emotional impact of a long-term physical health problem, or chronic pain.
• Your GP 
• A pharmacist for medication advice

Resources

Fatigue activity chart (24kB pdf)

Stockport emotional wellbeing and mental health support (261kB pdf)