Medication and treatments for persistent pain
Pain management referral
Your GP practice can discuss the option of referring you to a specialist persistent pain management team. These often have pain specialist consultants, nurses, physios, psychologists and occupational therapists. They often include a Pain Management Programmes (PMP) and the following outlines what this often involves. Consider discussing this with your GP practice if you feel it would be of use to you.
What is a Pain Management Programme?
Living with persistent pain can affect many areas of life, including activity, work, relationships, sleep, mood, and wellbeing. A Pain Management Programme (PMP) helps you develop practical skills to manage these challenges so that pain has less impact on your life.
The programme is delivered by an experienced multidisciplinary team in a supportive group setting. It is based on evidence-informed approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on helping you respond more effectively to pain, difficult thoughts, and emotions.
Together, we’ll explore ways to:
- Understand persistent pain and how it affects the body and mind
- Build confidence in managing symptoms
- Respond more flexibly to pain, thoughts, and emotions
- Reconnect with activities and roles that matter to you
- Improve wellbeing and day-to-day functioning
- Develop healthy habits that support long-term wellbeing
The aim is not to eliminate pain, but to help you live a fuller and more satisfying life, whether or not pain changes.
What to expect
The programme provides a safe and supportive environment where you can learn new skills and connect with others living with persistent pain.
Topics include:
- Understanding the science of persistent pain
- The links between pain, thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and activity
- Gentle movement and physical activity
- Mindfulness and present-moment awareness
- Managing difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations
- Identifying what matters most to you and setting meaningful goals
- Building resilience and managing flare-ups
The focus is on making gradual, sustainable changes that help you participate more fully in the parts of life that are important to you.
Realistic expectations
A PMP is not a cure for persistent pain and does not focus on eliminating symptoms.
Instead, it helps you learn new ways of responding to pain so that it has less influence over your choices and daily life.
The programme can help you:
- Develop greater flexibility in how you respond to challenges
- Reduce the struggle and frustration often associated with pain
- Feel less restricted by fear and avoidance
- Manage setbacks and flare-ups more effectively
- Make choices based on what matters to you
- Move towards the life you want, even when pain is present
Many people report feeling more confident, hopeful, and in control.
Potential benefits
People who complete a PMP often report:
- Greater confidence in managing pain
- Increased activity and participation in daily life
- Reduced fear of movement
- Improved emotional wellbeing
- Better coping with flare-ups
- Enhanced self-management skills
- Better sleep and daily routines
- Greater engagement in work, education, volunteering, or other important roles
- Increased connection with others
- Improved quality of life and sense of purpose
While everyone’s experience is different, many people find they spend less time struggling with pain and more time focused on the things that matter most to them.
Physiotherapy
A physiotherapist is a healthcare professional with specialist knowledge of how the body moves and works. They understand how your nerves, bones, muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments work together to help you move, stay active and do the things that matter to you.
When living with persistent pain, it is natural to change the way you move or avoid certain activities in an effort to protect yourself. Over time, however, these changes can sometimes lead to reduced strength, fitness and confidence, which can make everyday activities feel more difficult. A physiotherapist can help you understand these changes and support you to find ways of moving that feel safer, easier and more comfortable.
Physiotherapy for persistent pain is often less about hands-on treatment and more about working alongside you as a coach and guide. Together, you will explore ways to gradually rebuild strength, stamina, flexibility and confidence through activities and exercises tailored to your needs and goals.
Physiotherapists also help people develop practical skills for living well with persistent pain, such as pacing activities, managing setbacks, solving day-to-day challenges and building confidence to return to meaningful and enjoyable parts of life. Their aim is to support you in taking an active role in your recovery and help you feel more confident in your body’s ability to move and function.