Pain Clinic

Does anyone go to a pain clinic? and if so what help do they offer?

Not yet, but I'm being referred to one for my jaw issues, which I'm not exactly enthralled about!

My good friend has a severe spinal injury and found the pain clinic very useful. BUT it meant that he limited himself much more than he would have. He has since found a physio who is very interested in chronic pain and has much more of a life these days.

Actually, I think it was the Pain Management Programme he went on now I think of it. So I might be talking rubbish!

Oops.

I undertook a pain management course at the psychology unit at a nearby university. We tried meditation, relaxation exercises, self hypnosis and bio-feedback. Attended weekly for about 8 months.

While it did some good in the controlled environment of the university where there was a psychologist present and where the pain was low to moderate, I have not been able to practise the techniques successfully outside the consulting rooms.

I also have the problem that my migraines can be rather insidious (sneaking up in me without me being aware of them) so I rely on others to point out to me that a migraine is on the way. By that time I usually don't have the cognitive skills to carry out the techniques anyway.