The term 'persistent pain' refers to pain that persists beyond the time normally expected for healing following injury or disease. This is often defined as more than 6 months. Research has shown that persisting pain can often be related to changes within the nervous system. We understand that persisting pain often does not resolve with physical and medical treatments.
We have a Persistent Pain management service in Southampton, Portsmouth and Fareham/Gosport. These services are made up of physiotherapists, psychologists, doctors, nurses and exercise instructors.
For enquiries please call the numbers below
| Portsmouth Pain & CFS | 0300 123 6669 |
| Southampton Pain Team | 0300 123 6675 |
What is persistent pain management
Pain management aims to improve people's understanding of their pain and reduce problems that pain causes. Our teams work with people to improve their ability to manage pain. This covers both physical and psychological aspects of coping with pain. We look at things such as understanding pain, managing activity, achieving goals despite pain, and emotional wellbeing. Pain management is not trying to cure pain, although some people say their pain has reduced afterwards.
We hope that after coming to our service you will experience some, or all of the following:
- A better understanding of what persistent pain means and what can cause pain to persist
- Improved confidence about ways in which pain can be managed
- Better physical functioning
- Greater confidence in moving
- Improvements in mood
- Better sleep
- Better relationships
- Meeting other people who experience living with persistent pain, helping you build a widened support network.
Appointments with the Persistent Pain Team may be one-to-one or group based. Often you are invited to a Pain Information session near the start of your treatment, to help you to understand persistent pain and how the Service can help you. You may be invited to join a Pain Management Programme.
You have the right to request a chaperone to be present during your appointment and we would be happy to provide this for you if required. We will ask for your consent before completing our assessment and you have the right to decline any parts of your assessment. We are able to organise interpreters for several different languages upon request, dependant on availability.
We support the teaching of student nurses and physiotherapists; therefore there may be student present during your appointment with your consent.