At the centre of pain education (COPE), we aim to help people cope with the challenges and difficulties that living with chronic pain brings. The service we offer includes a half day introductory education programme, multidisciplinary assessment, an eight week group pain management programme, or individual programmes and therapy.
The staff at COPE include a clinical physiotherapy specialist, a clinical nurse specialist, clinical psychologists and an administrative co-ordinator. The COPE team are all experienced in pain management, and work closely with clinicians in the pain management service and other specialities across Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The services at COPE use a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach to the management of chronic pain. CBT has been demonstrated to be an effective approach for helping people to manage the impact of a range of physical health problems, including chronic pain.
Aims
At COPE we aim to help people to understand their pain and to improve their quality of life by learning and putting into practice a range of self-help strategies. Our aim is not to cure the pain, but to reduce the distress and disability that pain causes.
Objectives
Our objectives are to:
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Increase understanding of chronic pain;
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Improve physical function;
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Reduce low mood and depression related to pain;
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Decrease anxiety about pain;
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Improve stress management;
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Help people to lead as normal a life as possible, despite pain, through gradual return to valued activities;
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Ensure effective use of pain medication, including reduction in long-term use where appropriate;
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Improve confidence to manage pain.
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