People from all walks of life have discovered the life-changing benefits of self-managing pain effectively

I have found the heavy focus on meditation within the course disturbing. Meditation is a religious practise and not something Christians can partake in. The suggestion of doing yoga is also a spiritual practise not compatible with Christian beliefs. I do not think it is acceptable to have any religious references within a NHS course as you are in danger of isolating a faith group. I understand that this course has been designed to assist people who have received proper investigations into their pain condition(s). This is not something I have received. This course has made me feel utterly hopeless, misunderstood and most importantly ‘dismissed’. Despite my contacting you last year to reiterate and confirm that you received the instruction to direct me to see a rheumatologist you have still not acted on this instruction. This entire course is patronising. All of this information is on YouTube…I know this because I’ve spent years watching videos to help me understand and deal with my pain.

I would never recommend using the pain Clinic or this course. Very little was done to help me. I was sent to the pain clinic at my worst time I had deep depression. And all the pain clinic did for me was take me off of all my medications to where I had side affect for 6 months. As well as trying to deal with deep depression due to my pain. I was then sent on this course that told me pain was in my head. And the way you deal with pain is to stop what you are doing and meditate. This did not work for me as I am not a monk who has had training to cope with pain since a child. In my opinion the ethos for the pain clinic management for pain is to save the NHS lots of money by taking people off costly pain medication and convincing them to meditate so their pain will disappear. This does not work if you go to A&E with a broken bone they don’t tell you to meditate they give you pain medication why are people in long term pain being treated differently. It’s the cost it must be.

I would like to thank everyone for the help and advice they have given me during the course it has been very helpful Thankyou

I found this really helpful and it made me remember certain things and what to do

Superb course, I can’t swear by any results as of yet but there definitely seems to be substance to this course and I definitely recommend it to anyone with persistent pain.

The course does not ask about any new or altered medication which has happened in my case and has made some difference to my pain and mood and it is this rather than the course which has improved my ‘results’ ! My overall opinion of the course is that maybe just 10% has been helpful. I know there is no magic solution but being told that you just have to manage it can sometimes make me cross.

Thank you, this course has really helped me with pain and understanding how to live with it. I listen to my body more now and give myself time to meditate. I only use pain killers when I have a flare up and nothing will take the edge off the pain. I have enjoyed doing this course.

This course appears to be for people with bad backs - my pain is mainly in my arms (RSI/fibromyalgia) when it is paramount that I do listen to the pain because it does spell danger if I carry on! So I ignored that. The meditations very useful indeed, especially those with the sound effects. I agree that pain medication is not always the answer. I wish some GPs would understand this as well. I preferred to take gentle exercise, Pilates, walking, acupuncture etc. Following distractions, as suggested, can really help your brain to think of something else other than pain, although I can totally understand that pain may need to come down in level a bit to achieve this. Advice re not overloading family, friends and colleagues ref your pain and problems is good, as people do get fed up of hearing about it. However people often forget about chronic pain, thinking it is like acute injuries which heal, and they don't understand that chronic pain just continues affecting your whole life. I would say give the course a go and give everything a try. Life is too short to give up due to pain - don't let it win.

I understand what the professionals are trying to achieve here. It is a very positive and encouraging course regarding pain management, however, it seems very "one size fits all". I was a little disappointed that the ending questionnaire showed little to no improvement for me. I am more depressed than when I started (nothing to do with the course) as my pain has increased, even though I've followed all advice given within the course. I've changed my diet, lost some weight, kept as active as I can within my means, I stretch everyday, I try to be social at least once a month where possible, and I listen to the mindfulness tapes and meditation segments in my library but have noticed very little difference to my overall health and pain the past few months. Yes, it has take me over a year to complete this course as I've been so unwell and in such severe pain no matter what I do. I've followed the advice, meditated, tried positive reinforcement techniques, kept active and nothing has help much. I will say that the meditation tapes do aid in reducing stress and lowering pain for those 20 minutes of listening, but it comes straight back as soon as it ends. The only thing that has assisted me is my pain medication and has gotten me through some very painful episodes in combination with the meditation tapes and relaxing techniques, but I can't lay/sit and meditate all day everyday, it just isn't realistic. I feel this course is aimed at those who know why they are experiencing pain and have been given answers to then use these tools to cope with such pains.

Overall, although positive, encouraging and supportive, the course seems to focus more of ways to deal with pain without medication which is unrealistic for many people who suffer excruciating pain everyday and need immediate pain relief for that pain daily. Sometimes, no amount of breathing, meditation, stretching helps relieve severe pain there and then. It might distract you for a few moments, but what about for the rest of then day? I don't mean to sound disheartening or negative as I have been doing the steps, using the library and really trying hard to incorporate the suggested techniques in to my days. But I've seen such a small amount of improvement I'm afraid to say. I just have to be honest so that this course can be improved in order for it to managed all levels of pain ranging from low to excruciating, because at the moment the course needs to be differentiated for all levels of pain.

Hello I did enjoy the course it gave me some new insight about pain and how it can affect us, I tried some mental calming techniques, and found them very helpful. Especially recently when I have been put under pressure, also the relaxation guide and gentle exercise videos were helpful. In all I thank you and your team, for the time and trouble you’ve gone to, to help vulnerable people.

I have found this course interesting and of benefit to me. I have not felt pressured as the course is set out in little chunks and allows me time to consider the support and information provided at my own pace and therefore takes the pressure off. I was unsure of the value of this course as it is online however this has been of benefit to me as I did not feel any pressure on time or responses during the time it has taken to complete. I would like to thank those professionals who have supplied each area of their expertise for the benefit of others.

I found this course was mainly covering back pain. I have fibromyalgia and putting my hands on my head is excruciating never mind bending forward to my knees. Lying on the floor is not an option for me I can’t get up. Stretching my arms and legs is extremely painful with fibro. I’ve noticed when I do exercise or walking I get severe leg and toe cramps. Life in general is the pits. The only thing I found was good is the meditation but I was doing that anyway myself. My hearing and smell are super sensitive and I found the background squealing on the videos off putting. I’ve started to get a sensation like pins being stuck into me all over after any exercise. This is extremely frustrating as I don’t want to exercise and get the stick pin sensations. I’m fed up with the pain. It’s like having a really bad flu every single day. Would anyone with a really bad flu get out of bed and exercise??? NO they wouldn’t. This programme while extensive might be good for some people but not for me. I was left in tears with pain after the first day of exercises. I’m not prepared to be in tears again for pain. I did the course with high hopes of being in control of my pain. It hasn’t happened. I do meditate myself anyway that was the only part of the course I found good. But it’s not a cure. Medication does not work for me. They make me dizzy and fall over. So I’m feeling all the pain every day. No relief so now I’m totally disillusioned as I was expecting this course to help immensely. And it hasn’t.

With an extremely recent CRPS diagnosis following a broken wrist, I was shocked, upset and experiencing intense pain when I’d always thought of myself as a relatively fit and healthy person. I was unsure about the course and how wrong I was…it brings together so many Dr’s, experts and advice you couldn’t personally assemble no matter how much research you do yourself. Simple steps, with all the helpful stuff put in your library for easy access and answered so many questions I was thinking about medication wise. Personally I chose to log in every few days and reflecting back it was one of best decisions I made when I was feeling totally overwhelmed. I’d urge anyone to give it a try.

Hi . Thank you all for the input provided. I found a lot of this information helpful in certain areas. It also gives you confirmation that you are not alone.

Don't appreciate attempts to brainwash by people who simply identify themselves as specialists. In the 14 years I've been suffering from pain, many "specialists" have come forward and actively ruined my health. I find it incredibly insulting that this course has the nerve to tell me that the whole situation is simply manageable and relaxing music and calm breathing will take away pain that has put me on my knees in supermarkets and taken the breath and words from my mouth mid sentence. Also, most people who actually manage to get this course, bearing in mind it took my GP the best part of a decade to refer me, are already aware that stretching will help. The problem is, if the pain is still there then the stretching is starting to fail. This course is entirely centered around either hypochondriacs or minor pain sufferers. Anyone with debilitating pain cannot consider any of this advice. It's just another NHS cop out and cost saving time waste exercise designed to get patients out of waiting rooms and improve the shortfall statistics. Complete waste of my time!

This course was not for me . Everything that we went through are things I have already been doing for years. I have suffered for so long that I manage my. Pain well. It will not beat me . I hold down a full time job and run a house and family of 5. I take time when I need to and I pace my self well I know what works and doesn't. All I need is my pain relief managed and tweeked once in a while and mri to make sure things are not getting worse . I know my body

I have found the course very helpful, there was no rushing to get it completed. Just did it in my own time. I would recommend anybody to do this course it was so helpful. Thank you all very much. Pauline Butterfill.

I began the course a little sceptical having had persistent pain for over 20 years. I am pleasantly surprised, I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and things that I thought I understood have finally clicked into place, I am particularly enjoying the meditation and mindfulness, something I have never been able to appreciate before. I am happy to know I can still access the course and continue with the steps. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone with persistent pain and to definitely see the course through to the end. I will continue to access and use the steps from this course. Thankyou

i found 40 percent of the course helpful to my personal condition...others may find more or less, but that is for them to try for themselves. some of the things i found discomforting were the musical offerings for meditation.. this type of sound is VERY personal.and what one person finds soothing can make another feel very irritated. please do NOT offer sounds unless guaranteed to help...for example....one of comforting field and meadow sounds was ruined by a pigeon call that continued to irritate! Pigeons do not coo.. they screech