Pain Matters
Our quarterly magazine contains news and features on self-management techniques, pain treatments and personal experiences of living with pain.
Print copies of Pain Matters are FREE of charge to anyone living with chronic pain and those who support them.
Latest Issue
In Pain Matters 87 we bring you a selection of articles spanning over a decade. We travel from a colourful approach to pain management in ‘Colour me Calm’, through techniques of brain imaging in ‘Picturing Pain’ and to a creative perspective to pain in ‘Describing Pain’. Dr Lars ...
Back Catalogue
Missed an issue of Pain Matters? Fear not. Our back catalogue of digital magazines are available via our Pocketmags page for a small fee.
We also have physical copies of some of our previous issues still available below (only in the UK).
View on Pocketmags
Inside Issue 86: Living with pain is a team effort. This magazine has been guest-edited by the Powys Living Well Service (PLWS) team in Bronllys Hospital, Powys, Wales. The Welsh Government has been beneficial in supporting the existence of this programme. This issue focuses on PLWS’ specific ...
This issue reflects on Pain Concern itself - Pain Matters 85 celebrates our volunteers, our fundraisers and our achievements! However, in Pain Matters 85 we still keep our perspective on pain, hearing from the wonderful regular column ‘Letter to my patient’ and exploring the vitality of friendship for those ...
In Pain Matters issue 84 we have curated a magazine that puts emphasis on the lived experiences of living with pain and the inequalities in public health. We introduce a new regular column Letter to My Patient, re-visit the discussion on health inequalities and Ask Pete returns along ...
Inside Pain Matters 83: This edition covers the whole experience of living with pain, from consultations with GPs, essential information about opioids, preventing pain after surgery and managing the fear that persistent pain engenders. It is guest-edited by staff and patients at NHS Ayrshire & Arran outpatient ...
Inside issue 82: This edition of Pain Matters focuses on how we manage pain in children and young people. Pain Matters 82 was guest-edited by the team from Bath Centre for Pain Services. This issue looks at the impact of pain on children, young people and their ...
Inside issue 81: The person-centred approach to managing long-term pain has been endorsed by many previous guest editors of Pain Matters. Understanding the impact that trauma and adverse experiences can have on your own perception of pain is vital when trying to manage long-term pain. We are ...
Inside Issue 80: Funding for pain research is absolutely essential in order to move towards a healthcare system with improved outcomes, where quality of patient care is better informed by science and led by the needs of the patients. With that in mind, we are pleased to ...
Inside issue 79: The Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy (GAPPA) was started by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) in 2018. IASP is the leading global organisation supporting the study and practice of pain and pain relief. IASP brings together scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers and ...
Inside issue 78: Our guest editors come from the North Bristol NHS Trust, where, in the past ten years, Nick Ambler and his team have tried hard to create a more personalised form of pain management and support. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this was obviously harder, but ...
Inside issue 77: When you have pain in your face, who do you go to see about it? The dentist might be your first port of call, but what happens if the problem is not dental? The Facial Pain Team, based at the Eastman Dental Hospital in London, ...
Inside issue 76: What do we mean when we talk about pain? In this edition of Pain Matters, we have invited the members of the Flippin’ Pain™ campaign to guest-edit a pain neuroscience education special. A public health campaign delivered by Connect Health, Flippin’ Pain aims to improve ...
Inside issue 75: The twenty-fifth anniversary issue of Pain Matters sees us return to the hospital where it all started, as NHS Lothian take the helm. This issue’s theme is compassion-focused therapy, with the team showing the different ways they use compassion as part of a holistic pain management approach. This edition can also ...
Inside issue 74: Our first Pain Matters of the new decade is a jam-packed issue, looking at all aspects of the multidisciplinary team, from the Pain Management Jigsaw to how laughter can be a tool in the pain management toolbox. Also, Vidyamala Burch returns, giving her three reasons why ...
Inside issue 73: This edition of the magazine takes an in-depth look at all aspects of neuropathic pain, from what it is to how best to manage and treat it, taking in points of view from those living with it to the healthcare professionals trying to help them. Also, writer Robert ...
Inside issue 72: How external support groups are a vital cog in the pain management machine; art therapist Julliet King has tips on using photography to manage pain; and physiotherapist Jill Geyer tries to breakdown the taboos surrounding period pain. Guest-edited by the Southampton Pain Team and Portsmouth ...
Inside issue 71: Our first guest-edited issue, the team at the SNRPMP tell Pain Matters all about their work and how residential programmes differ in their approach to pain management; also Paul Evans, producer of Airing Pain, discusses how Pain Concern’s Navigator Tool helps doctors and patients ‘sing off the ...
Inside issue 70: Top ten tips for back ache - Chartered physiotherapist David Rogers shares his top tips for managing back pain; Sleeping with pain - Pain psychologist Sue Peacock discusses strategies for getting a restful nights’ sleep; Being mindful - Pain management with a KISS. ...
Inside issue 69: Chronic pain and litigation - Barrister Julian Benson explains the complexities of a claim; Acupuncture - Acupuncture treatment can boost the effectiveness of standard medical care; Creativity corner - The complex relationship between pain and the self; Being mindful - The journey of a thousand ...
Purchase a digital copy Inside issue 68: Weather and pain – The app-based project ‘Cloudy’ is introduced, with the aim of researching the link between weather and pain; Arthritic pain – Expert David Walsh discusses arthritis beyond worn joints; Creativity corner – Using visualisation and art for pain self-management; Being mindful – A guide to making SMART ...
Inside issue 67: Exhibiting pain – Susanne Main’s project examines how pain can be communicated through art; ACT – Psychologist Hannah Durand summarises Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Workplace discrimination – Research volunteer Catherine Au investigates discriminatory experiences of people with chronic pain in the workplace; Being mindful – Vidyamala Burch explains ...
Inside issue 66: Tai chi – instructor Maria Mucha explains how tai chi can be a useful tool for pain self-management, and can be adapted for different accessibility levels; Veterans – healthcare for veterans is discussed, with support from Forces in Mind Trust; Being mindful – Vidyamala Burch presents three fast-acting techniques for pain ...
Inside issue 65: Mind and body – physiotherapist Madeleine Pook discusses exercises that can have physical and cognitive benefits; Foot pain – podiatrist Gordon Henry gives advice on keeping fit and choosing shoes when you have foot pain; Gabapentinoids – Dr John Lee offers his thoughts on ...
Inside issue 64: Language – Physiotherapist and author Betsan Corkhill explains how the way we talk about pain affects our perceptions; Power to the community – how a support group in Moray succeeded in reopening their local clinic; Being mindful – Vidyamala Burch talks about what she keeps in her pain toolkit ...
Inside issue 63: Gabapentinoids and weight gain – Professor Roger Knagg discusses dealing with the side effects of gabapentinoids; Self-management – research volunteer Katy Gordon investigates some of the barriers to self-management and why people are feeling unsupported; Music – researchers share insights about how music can be used for pain self-management; Being mindful ...
Inside issue 62: Gardening – garden activities, such as Green Gym, are discussed regarding their benefits for wellbeing; Relationships – Dr Barry Mason talks about people’s experiences with pain affecting their relationships, and how communication can help; FGM – survivors of Female Genital Mutilation speak out on the affect it has ...
Inside issue 61: Iron Man – Mick Serpell talks about the shared strategies he used in the Iron Man triathlon and in a pain management programme; Hypnotherapy – retired GP Ann Williamson discusses how being in a hypnotic state can help in pain self-management and addresses some of the misconceptions around ...
Inside issue 60: Targeted treatment – Dr Mick Serpell gives an overview of topiceuticals; Vision – Heather Wallace talks about the effect of chronic pain on her vision and her experience of using eye exercises; Being mindful – Vidyamala Burch explains how she came to develop Mindful Pain Management Programmes and introduces breath-based meditation; Rebuilding life ...
Inside issue 59: Paracetamol – Professor Nick Bateman takes an in-depth look into Paracetamol and Dr Michael Lee discusses how perception of premium branded products changes its effects; Domestic abuse – Survivors share experiences of chronic pain and psychological trauma after domestic abuse; Being mindful – Vidyamala Burch presents ...
Inside issue 58: Young carers – Dr Liz Forbat talks about the frustration some young carers can feel and gives advice on encouraging healthy family dynamics; The Pain Chain – Meherzin Das talks about how her and her team in the Pain Chain project have made connections between people with pain; Being ...
Inside issue 57: Dosage – Pain specialist nurse Jacquelyn Watson explains why people might want to reduce their medication and some things to keep in mind if you choose to do so; Acupuncture – Acupuncturists Catherine Tiphanie and David Carr discuss the benefits of acupuncture treatment for pain management; Weaving – Max Dawlish ...
Inside issue 56: Welfare system reforms – Dame Anne Begg MP talks to Pain Matters about the potential problems for people with pain that could come as a result of welfare system reforms; Art – artists who live with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) participate in a project to convey ...
Inside issue 55: Yoga – Susanna Naismith discusses research that has shown the benefits yoga has for back pain; Endometriosis – Ana Jamison shares how she came to set up a support group for endometriosis and the positive effects felt by group members; Opioids – Kiera Jones explains the contrasting views ...
Inside issue 54: Family therapy – How families can learn to better support each other is discussed in relation to family therapy; Headaches – recent findings on the link between overuse of painkillers and headaches are presented; Visceral pain – President of IASP Fernando Cervero explains why his organisation is ...
Inside issue 53: Cycling – Sharon Underhill shares how nerve damage from a slipped disc affected her life over several years and how she discovered cycling through chronic pain; Hip pain – Margaret Graham presents some yoga exercises to help with hip pain and explains how the exercises can ...
Inside issue 52: Knitting – Former physiotherapist, Betsan Corkhill, explains how her online support network Stitchlinks has helped members with their pain self-management; Visualisation – Relaxation therapist Elspeth Walker tells Pain Concern’s Christine Johnston about visualisation in order to relieve stress caused by pain; Teamwork – GP Mark Ritchie explains how patient care ...
Inside issue 51: Wrist pain – Kiera Jones, a speaker at the 2011 UK Pain Summit, talks about how her life and career has changed in the years since first developing chronic wrist pain; Meditation – Marion Beatson presents a meditation technique that has helped her manage her chronic ...
Inside issue 50: A tribute to Pete Mackenzie – former colleagues and patients of Scotland’s first Lead Clinician for Chronic Pain, Pete Mackenzie, share memories of him; Cannabis – Dr Willy Notcutt discusses the benefits and possible side effects of using medicinal cannabis to treat chronic pain; Sunrise Walk – Pat Onions ...
