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From evidence-based information leaflets to our quarterly magazine, and podcast, find what you need to manage your pain here.

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  • Airing Pain

    Our radio programme brings together people with chronic pain and top specialists to talk about the resources which can help.

  • Pain Matters

    Our quarterly magazine contains news and features on self-management techniques, pain treatments and personal experiences of living with pain.

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Whether phone, online or in person, we have some great tools available to help you manage your pain.

Find a local pain support group.

  • Helpline

    Our telephone and email services offer support to individuals in the UK.

  • Peer Support

    Join the conversation with other members of the Pain Concern community.

  • Self Management

    Find out how we can put pain in its place –  Resources to help you self-manage your pain.

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  • What We Do

    What we do to help and support people living with pain.

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    Details of our history, trustees and advisory board.

Self-Management Navigator Tool - helping communication to improve life with pain - Try It Now!
How the symptoms of long COVID are being managed using group consultations and the many things long COVID has in common with other long-term conditions.

Now that COVID has become a part of our day-to-day lives, so too has long COVID. There is now so much money now being directed towards researching treatments for long COVID. How might this impact the way we treat all manner of chronic conditions?

In this episode of Airing Pain, Paul Evans interviews the team at the Berkshire Pain Clinic, who run a specific long COVID service, on treating people with the condition. Notably, there are many similarities between the symptoms of long COVID and the symptoms of other long-term conditions, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Issues like managing pain, fatigue, sleep and pacing are common in those with long COVID. These symptoms are also common in people with other chronic conditions. This raises the possibility that the money being spent now on long COVID may have a far wider reaching benefit in the long term.

The team at the Berkshire Pain Clinic have already found success in using group consultations to manage long COVID. Listen, or read the transcript, to find out how these consultations are run and why they are proving so beneficial.

Issues covered in this programme include:

group consultations, long COVID, self-management of long-term conditions, fibromyalgia, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, pacing, sleep problems, building support networks, managing mood problems and goal setting.

Time Stamps:

02:02 – Dr Deepak Ravindran explains how existing knowledge can help us to manage long COVID.
08:22 – Dr Rupa Joshi explains how group consultations can provide support to those with long-term conditions.
11:09 – how did group consultations start at the Berkshire Pain Clinic?
13:50 – Dr Rupa Joshi discusses how both patients and healthcare professionals can learn from group consultations.
14:17 – how do group consultations for long COVID differ from those for other health conditions?
15:33 – Dr Deepak Ravindran on how our understanding of COVID and long COVID have changed.
18:52 – Caroline Mole shares her experience of long COVID, pain and fatigue and how it has impacted her life.
20:25 – Dr Deepak Ravindran shares how his experience of COVID gave him perspective on the experiences of his chronic pain patients.
21:54 – how funding for long COVID can help those living with other long-term conditions.
24:25 – Airing Pain producer Paul Evans shares his experience of fibromyalgia and how it has a lot in common with long COVID.
26:04 – could the treatments we discover for long COVID be used for people with other conditions?
27:13 – Caroline Mole explains what it was like to have a long COVID flare up and her struggles with fatigue.
29:08 – Greg Scott on talking therapies and managing the mental health aspects of long COVID and other conditions.
32:06 – Health and Wellbeing Coach Fatema Hafizji on empowering people with long-term conditions to achieve their goals.
35:54 – Personal Trainer Kerry Doe explains how she supports people to return to exercise following COVID.
40:38 – Saira Mirza on the role of the physiotherapist in managing long COVID and other conditions and the importance of breathing techniques.

Contributors:

  • Dr Deepak Ravindran, Clinical Lead for Pain Medicine and Clinical Lead for the Berkshire Long COVID Integrated Service at Royal Berkshire Hospital
  • Dr Rupa Joshi, Managing Partner at Woodley Centre Surgery
  • Caroline Mole, who lives with long COVID and is a participant in the long COVID group consultation programme.
  • Greg Scott, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist for ‘Talking Therapies‘ a psychological service of the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Fatema Hafizji, Health and Wellbeing Coach for the Wokingham North Primary Care Network
  • Kerry Doe, a personal trainer who works with long COVID patients.
  • Saira Mirza, Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner for long COVID and pain management

Special Thanks:

This edition of Airing Pain has been funded by grants from the James Weir Foundation, the Hospital Saturday Fund and the Erskine Cunningham Hill Trust.

More Information:

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What can you gain from joining the British Pain Society? The British Pain Society are a vibrant diverse community of health professional and patients who work together to promote effective pain management. https://buff.ly/3D5dZPh

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Throughout her long reign the Queen has supported volunteering and inspired volunteers by her example and her kindness. She has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of charities of all types.

Pain Concern wishes to add its voice to the nationwide expression of sadness and condolence.

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We are pleased to share the British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting Poster Prize Winner Scott Tagliaferri’s poster on chronic back pain, along with a short explanatory passage written by Scott. View poster in full below.

Back Pain Treatments For You

Various treatments exist for lower back pain, including medications, exercise training, massage and acupuncture. But how do we know what will work for you?  

Lower back pain is the leading cause of global disability. Less than one in ten cases of lower back pain can be diagnosed through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). For the remaining, the true diagnosis remains unclear. The biopsychosocial model shows that biological, psychological and social factors are linked to lower back pain, but the contribution differs across individuals. Therefore, rather than following a template treatment, it seems best to find lower back pain treatment that is tailored for you as an individual.  

My poster formed part of my PhD thesis, which was conducted at Deakin University. My thesis explored how we can use data-driven approaches to assist clinicians with recognising individual differences in biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to lower back pain. My work has the potential to lead to faster referrals and treatments that are more tailored to each individual with lower back pain.  

I had the opportunity to present my poster at the 55th Annual British Pain Society Scientific Meeting. This was a wonderful conference that highlighted important research and clinical considerations. However, what impressed me the most was the inclusion of individuals with lived pain experience. Kudos to the British Pain Society, and to each individual with lived experience who attended the conference, as your contribution was invaluable.  

I would also like to thank all my colleagues at Deakin University and beyond for their support.  

Scott Tagliaferri is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and PhD Candidate at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.  

Prefer a PDF?Download

Further Resources:

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Take me to the leaflet

Many people living with chronic pain report difficulties with sleep. Pain makes getting comfortable in bed harder anWhat is persistent vulval pain? Persistent vulval pain is described as soreness, and sometimes burning or itching in the vulval area. Dr Shona Brown explains the symptoms, conditions and treatments available for people living with these conditions.

Includes

Diagnosis
Pelvic floor muscles
Neuropathic pain
Managing vulval pain
Treatments

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Prefer a PDF?Download

This leaflet is for parents of children and young people with chronic pain. We’ll look at some of the
challenges and how you can face them with top tips from parents, healthcare professionals and
young people.


What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain that has lasted for more than three months or pain that has lasted beyond the
time the body would usually heal or recover. Chronic pain can develop after an illness or injury or for
no obvious reason. Chronic pain is caused by changes to the nervous system which mean that the
brain produces pain even when there is no harm to the body. Scientists are learning more about why
this happens. The medicines available often cannot relieve all of the pain.


How will pain affect my child?
Chronic pain can affect your child’s emotional wellbeing and cause difficulties for them in school and
their other activities. These impacts can be reduced if their pain is well managed. Each child or young
person will have a different experience depending on their age, personality and other factors as well
as the treatment and support they receive.


What can I do as a parent or guardian?
Parents of a child or young person who has chronic pain often feel stressed, powerless and overwhelmed at times. However, there are things you can do to help your child. Here are some tips from parents and healthcare professionals to help you.

Tips:

  1. Tell the healthcare professionals about the pain and its
    impact on your child’s life. Be persistent!
  2. Ensure your child understands about their pain and their
    treatment. You and their healthcare professionals can help
    explain this.
  3. Support and encourage your child to stick to the
    treatment plan.
  4. Support your child to be involved in decisions about their
    care. This is especially important as they get older.
  5. Be realistic about pain relief – 100% pain free is unlikely.

Appointments and treatment

Visits to the GP and to hospital clinics can be stressful and difficult for you and your child. Parents may feel they have to struggle to have their child’s pain be adequately treated, and communication can be a problem.

Tips

  1. Tell the healthcare professionals about the pain and its impact on your child’s life. Be persistent!
  2. Ensure your child understands about their pain and their treatment. You and their healthcare professionals can help explain this,
  3. Support and encourage your child to stick to the treatment plan,
  4. Support your child to be involved in decisions about their care. This is especially important as they get older,
  5. Be realistic about pain relief – 100% pain free is unlikely.

School
Keeping up with school work while in pain can be a challenge. Teachers and classmates may not really understand chronic pain and the impact it can have. Some children and young people can experience bullying because of their chronic pain.

Tips

  1. Ask the pain specialist nurse to visit your child’s school to inform staff and classmates
  2. Arrange for adaptations to help your child get the most out of school. These might include: o permission to leave lessons early when necessary
    o permission to use lifts on the school site
    o cushions, specially adapted desk furniture
    o lockers for their books so they have less to carry around
    o using an iPad/adapted laptop rather than pen and paper
    o a ‘buddy’ system with other classmates to help them catch up with their work.
    Family

Family

Chronic pain affects everyone in the family, not just the child or young person who has the pain. Chronic pain disrupts family activities and everyday routine and can lead to emotional and financial strain.

Tips

  1. DO try to keep the whole family in the loop about what is going on. For example,
    you could take their brothers and sisters along to a routine hospital appointment
  2. DO speak to other parents in the same situation.
  3. DO try to keep a sense of humour and have as much fun as possible
  4. DO NOT overprotect your child with chronic pain. Encourage them to participate in
    activities
  5. DO NOT focus attention on your child with pain at the expense of their brothers and
    sisters

Support for parents and families
Pain Concern’s helpline volunteers have been trained to give information and support to parents
with children living in pain. Call 0300 123 0789 or email help@painconcern.org.uk.


Many parents we spoke to valued sharing experiences with other families. You could try:
• Attending sessions at pain management programmes for families to meet others in the same
situation
• Finding a local support group for people in pain. Most groups welcome carers
• Using ‘Contact – for families with disabled children’ to get in touch with local families with a child living with a disability
• Reaching out to others online through Pain Concern’s HealthUnlocked community or on
Facebook

More information
Visit painconcern.org.uk/families-and-children/ for links to more resources and to listen to podcasts featuring children’s pain and the needs of family and carers.


Pain Concern would like to thank the young people, parents and healthcare professionals who
helped us in producing this information

Family therapists can help you to find ways of teaming up on the pain together. To find therapists
specialising in chronic illness visit the AFT (Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice) website.

Parenting a Child or Young Person with Chronic Pain. All rights reserved. Revised January 2023. To be reviewed February 2026. First published July 2016.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License.

Tips from parents and children

Scroll down

‘You may feel like you are hitting against a brick wall but keep fighting. Determination!’

Parent

‘The professionals know a lot about pain but they don’t know your child or what the pain is doing to their life or to family life; so make sure they listen.’

Mother

‘Mum and I talk things through before the appointment and have a plan. That way we can be sure that the professionals listen and know what’s happening with pain.’

Young person

‘Even with school… They weren’t understanding what was going on. Then the pain nurse swept in there. Afterwards it was as if we had gone to a different place.’

Parent

‘I don’t like my siblings to see me at my worst but at the same time I need them there because I can’t cope by myself.’

Young person

Contact us:

General enquiries: office@painconcern.org.uk

Media enquiries: editorial@painconcern.org.uk

Pain Concern Helpline Telephone: 0300 123 0789

Pain Concern Helpline Email: help@painconcern.org.uk

Office Telephone: 0131 6695951

© 2010-2022 Pain Concern. All Rights Reserved.

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Pain Management After Surgery LeafletDownload

Pain Concern Co-badges British Pain Society publication on managing pain after surgery. This is a really useful publication for anyone who is undergoing/has undergone surgery. Arming yourself with the knowledge while you’re still strong before surgery can really make all the difference when it comes around to recovery. For more information please visit the BPS website at BPS Patient Publications | British Pain Society

Pain Concern also has two leaflets on pain after surgery. Click either of the following links now to read Chronic Pain After Surgery or Chronic Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery.

If you would like to help out the British Pain Society in evaluating their new leaflet please download the following form and, once completed, return via email to infor@britishpainsociety.org

BPS Evaluation FormDownload

Your feedback is always valued when creating information resources designed to support people with pain. Receiving completed evaluation forms is an essential part of the project work that makes publications like these possible. So, if you do have the time please fill one out!

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Evaluation Support Scotland worked with Pain Concern to help us deliver an improved helpline service. They’ve now officially published the case study, so feel free to have a read about the work we’ve been doing!

To access our helpline and e-help services please click here: Helpline – Pain Concern

For more information on Evaluation Support Scotland’s principles for good evaluation, click the following link: Case Study: Pain Concern – Evaluation Support Scotland

Pain-Concern-case-study-one-page-versionDownload

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Today the Faculty of Pain Medicine releases their Four Nation Strategy for Pain Management.


Pain Concern fully endorses this strategy and we encourage you to learn more about it, and how it could shape the way care is delivered for people with pain, at 👉 https://fpm.ac.uk/four-nation-strategy-pain-management

Peer Support. Join the community

“Having chronic pain is very lonely.”

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Everything you need to know about how to live with chronic pain

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Take me to the leaflet

What is complex regional pain syndrome? Professor Karen Rodham explains this poorly-understood condition and provides information on the causes, diagnoses and treatment and self-management options available to people living with it.

Includes

What is CRPS?
Psychological interventions
Acupuncture
Physical and vocal rehabilitation
TENS machine
Coping
Amputation

Peer Support. Join the community

“Having chronic pain is very lonely.”

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Everything you need to know about how to live with chronic pain

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Take me to the leaflet

Attending appointments with healthcare professionals can cause a lot of stress and anxiety and people often leave feeling they have not managed to discuss the issues concerning them most. This leaflet, by nurse specialist Jacquelyn Watson, looks at how you can make the most of these appointments.

Includes

Preparing
Medications information
Timing
Taking notes

Peer Support. Join the community

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Everything you need to know about how to live with chronic pain

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Take me to the leaflet

This leaflet is designed to help you understand what stress is, inform you as to why is it important to be able to relax when you have chronic pain and provide some relaxation exercises for you to try.

Includes

The stress cycle
The pain and stress cycle
Deep breathing
Progressive muscular relaxation

Peer Support. Join the community

“Having chronic pain is very lonely.”

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